Trick Your Eyes at the Museum of Illusions in Kansas City

The Museum of Illusions is exactly like it sounds. It’s a collection of several tricks the eye has to try and decipher or something that would make you think. So if you’re looking for something to test your mind or make you think, plan an hour to visit the Museum of Illusions in Kansas City, Missouri.

I don’t want to share too many photos, because I want to you to experience the illusions in person. But here’s a rundown on what you can expect during your visit, along with a few tips to help you make the most out of your visit.

Directions and Tickets to the Museum of Illusions

The Museum of Illusions is located inside Union States in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It’s just north of the World War I Museum and Memorial – another popular destination in Kansas City. The best way to find it is to put the address into your maps and get directions. The address is 30 W Pershing Rd #620, Kansas City, MO 64108.

When you arrive, park in the parking garage to the west of Union Station. You can park on any of the levels. Head into the station and find lower level (level B). The Museum of Illusions is on the west end of the building. Don’t confuse it with Science City – that’s a whole different thing. From the front desk, that’s where you can buy your tickets.

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If you want to purchase your tickets in advance of your visit, you can purchase tickets online. Visit their website, then select the type of tickets you’d like – $15 Adult, $10 child (6-13), FREE infant/toddler (under 6) or the $40 Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children). Then you’ll select the quantity, day of your visit and the start time you prefer.

Start times range from 10 a.m. (when it opens) until 5:40 p.m. The museum closes at 6:30, so the final ticket time is 5:40 – allowing you 50 minutes to explore the museum.

Photo Opportunities at the Museum

When you first check in, the person at the front desk should point out a red circle graphic that you’ll find throughout the museum. That spot is the best viewing and photography point to capture the fun illusions found in the museum. I don’t want to spoil the photo opportunities, but they include a few, like:

• Head on a platter (see photo at the end of this article)
• I’m-bigger-than-you Room (see photo above)
• Small person in a big chair (see photo below)

I highly recommend having a camera with you so you can capture some of the illusions. A nice camera phone works just fine… but if you know me, you know I bring the big camera with me when I travel. I used it a little, but most photos were from my camera phone.

Trick Your Eyes Out with More Exhibits

From the moment you enter the Museum of Illusions, you’ll find optical illusions on the walls. It can be pretty trippy to see how things aren’t always as they seem. At one point, I thought my father-in-law’s eyes were broken because he wasn’t able to see many of the optical illusions until they were pointed out to him. For example, in the photo above, the metal bar is completely straight. But as you look at it, you can see it looks bent. Can you see it?

Another exhibit has a grid of white lines and black boxes. You’re asked to count the black spots, but as your eyes move, the spots keep disappearing. Strange, huh? There are so many optical illusions, and I recommend taking the time to try each and every one of them. Don’t rush through the museum or you’ll be through it so quickly and feel you didn’t get your money’s worth.

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One of the most dizzying exhibits is the rotating tunnel. Try to walk straight across the bridge while the tunnel continues to spin. Everyone in our group had a hard time walking straight through – expect the toddler. She made it through just fine and kept walking back and forth across the bridge. Oh, to be young again. 😉

One of the other exhibit rooms is the room of mirrors. Once you’re inside and the door’s shut, you’ll be surrounded by walls of mirrors and you can see yourself in a never-ending reflection.

Test Your Problem-solving Skills with Mind-bending Puzzles

Beyond optical illusions, there are several puzzles you can try to test your problem-solving skills. One of them is a test involving cubes with dots on them. I believe the request was to have 10 dots on three sides of the stacked blocks. Another one dealt with jumping pegs following a certain set of rules. My brother-in-law and his dad worked on it for a few minutes before heading to something else. My wife cheated and looked online using her phone.

There are other little wooden puzzles in the museum. There’s a Tower of Hanoi puzzle – which is the stack of rings (smaller to larger) that you have to move from one peg to another. Near the entrance of the museum, there are bins with other puzzles in them that you can try. I don’t think I have the patience to spend the time figuring out some of those puzzles. But I know others who really enjoy those things.

The Details

Address: Union Station, Level B, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108

How long to spend: 60 minutes

Cost: $15 for adults; Child (6-13 years) are $10; Seniors/Students are $12 each; The family deal is $40 for two adults and two kids.

Hours: Monday through Sunday: 10am – 6:30pm

Website: moikansascity.com

Phone: (816) 216-7387

DISCLOSURE: I received two complimentary admission tickets to the Museum of Illusions in Kansas City for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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