Things aren’t always as they appear at the Museum of Illusions Chicago
Things at the Museum of Illusions Chicago aren’t always as they seem. A short person can become tall. Another may be able to walk on the ceiling, while another person appears to teleport in an infinity well. The photo opportunities are everywhere at the museum, and it’s an experience you and your friends will be chatting about long after your visit.
If you plan to visit Chicago, you should include some time to explore the Museum of Illusions. Here are a few tips to help you plan your visit and amaze even yourself.
PRO TIP: Although I typically bring my nice Canon 6D camera, a cell phone works great for this museum. So you don’t have to worry about having an expensive camera to capture the shots.
Tickets and Directions to the Museum of Illusions Chicago
The best way to snag tickets to the Museum of Illusions in Chicago is to book them online in advance of your visit. The process is relatively simple.
- Visit their website and click on Buy Tickets
- Select the date and time you plan to visit the Museum of Illusions Chicago
- Select the number of tickets you need in each age category: Adult, Children, Seniors and Military
- Confirm your order total and follow the checkout process
You can then printout your tickets or just bring your phone in with you so the people at the front desk can scan them.
Like most of downtown Chicago, if you can avoid driving, that’s best. Our hotel was only a few blocks away from the Museum of Illusions Chicago, so we walked. UBER/Lyft are other options available, and there’s also the subway and the Elevated Train if you’re traveling from a little further out.
The Museum of Illusions is located on Washington Street, a mere three blocks west of Millennium Park.
When you do check in, the people at the front desk will let you know about the free locker rentals they have for guests at the museum. They’re located just off of the entry way and gift shop. I recommend storing in there whatever you can – coats, purses, bags, etc. You’ll be taking a lot of photos and interacting with lots of things. So you’ll want to have your hands free and not be worrying about all the stuff you’re carrying.
Optical Illusions That’ll Keep You Guessing
When you’re all set and ready to start your visit, the people at the front desk will give you a little rundown on the museum experience. They’ll show you the stickers on the ground so you know where to stand if you want to take a photo. After the brief orientation, you’re free to wander throughout the museum on your own.
BUT… if you need any help for a group photo, or you don’t understand one of the exhibits, the museum staff are wonderful and always willing to help out.
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Throughout the museum, there are displays or things hanging on the walls. There’s also a blue sign next to all of them that instruct you on how to see the optical illusion. There are some that make you go “Huh?”, and others that make you say “That’s awesome.” There are a few that are a real challenge for your brain to accept as reality.
Don’t rush through the museum. Spend the time to look at all the art and illusions on the wall. If you don’t, you’ll walk through the whole place in 10 minutes and think it was a waste of time. But engaging in the illusions will make you laugh and ponder – and then there are several really cool interactive exhibits, which I’ll outline below.
Mirrors, Mirrors Everywhere
Mirrors, when used creatively, can blow your mind. Sadly, there’s isn’t a mirror maze, but there is an Infinity Room. Once you enter, close the door behind you and you’ll be surrounded by mirrors. You’ll be able to see yourself go on and on. It’s always fun to see how each of those mirrors play off of the others to create some great views.
One area that I had a hard time finding the right photo to capture was the Clone Table. It’s a round table where you can sit and see yourself as you play a hand of cards. Whenever I tried to take a photo of me, you could always see the camera – and that isn’t ideal. So if you want to explore some of the social channels for the Museum of Illusions Chicago to get ideas for how to photograph yourself in some of the rooms, do it. Here’s the link for Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
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If you’ve got a friend or colleague at the museum with you, find the Kaleidoscope and each of you place your face at each end. It creates a fun image full of faces. It can be kinda freaky, but similar to the Kaleidoscope you looked through as a child – only larger.
One last exhibit I’ll talk about in this section is the Infinity Well. There’s a photo of me engaging in that exhibit above. At first, we had no clue what the circles were for or how they were used. The museum staff member saw us looking confused and stepped in to show us how it works – and we weren’t disappointed with the photo outcomes.
Views with Different Perspectives
Some of the most iconic areas of the Museum of Illusions Chicago offer different perspectives that make things look wrong. For example, in the photo above this section, my colleague Judy looks so much taller than me and her husband.
Another room allows people to look like their walking on the ceiling or standing on their head. It’s all about how you hold the camera to capture this second room. Or you can simply rotate the photo after the fact if you’re using your phone. The initial photo in this article shows how that room looks. You can have a lot of fun with it.
Another unique photo opportunity allows you to be a little kid in a big chair – as noted in the photo below. Be sure and snap your photo from the blue circle on the floor so things line up correctly.
As mentioned, the Museum of Illusions has many photo opportunities and things to experience that’ll either blow your mind or make you laugh.
The Details
Address: 25 E Washington St., Chicago, Illinois
How long to spend: 45-60 minutes
Cost: Standard general admission is $23 for adults; Child (6-13 years) are $18; Seniors/Students are $21 each; There are family rates that will save you a few dollars.
Hours: Sunday-Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Website: https://moichicago.com/
Phone: (312) 722-6780
DISCLOSURE: I received three complimentary admission tickets to the Museum of Illusions in Chicago for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
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