There’s A Magic Museum In Michigan, And It’s One Of The Quirkiest Places You’ll Ever Go

The Great Lake State has some incredible museums including the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Gilmore Car Museum, and the Yankee Air Museum. But if you have a fascination with the fantastical, then you’ll love this magic museum in Marshall, Michigan. This extensive supernatural collection has been delighting visitors since the 1970s.

Opened in 1978, the American Museum of Magic is located in the heart of downtown Marshall, about a 40-minute drive east of Kalamazoo.

The museum is a nonprofit organization that is housed inside a historic two-story building from the 1860s.

This museum boasts the largest collection of magic items in the United States. Museum-goers will be amazed by the thousands of interesting artifacts on display.

There is a small fee for museum entry with children under five allowed in for free. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible and there are guided tours offered that specifically only cover the first floor. The second floor is accessed by a staircase and is optional.

You’ll find more than 500 showbills, 5,000 programs, 10,000 books, and 46,000 photographs in the museum. There is a large collection of magical devices owned by Harry Blackstone Sr. and the milk can and overboard box used by Harry Houdini.

Along with the vintage ephemera and magical contraptions, you can take your picture at the colorful photo stand-ins to take home as a souvenir. Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, this museum is a fun experience for the entire family.

To plan your visit, check out the American Museum of Magic website. Have you explored this impressive and kitschy museum before? Let us know about your experience in the comments below. If you have a favorite museum in Michigan, let us know about it by submitting a nomination form and we may feature it in our next article!