Copyright MassLive
BOSTON — As an adult, I had a good time at the Museum of Illusions. If I were 10 years old, it would have been the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. Tucked into a double-decker row of shops on the eastern end of Faneuil Hall, the Museum of Illusions is a dense cluster of interactive exhibits that are designed to mess with your mind. Unlike most museums, though, you’re actually encouraged to touch everything. Not only that, there are staff members on hand to help you pose for cool photos. If I went to a museum as a kid and someone told me, “It’s OK to climb on that fence and sit on the upside-down basketball hoops, I would have been in heaven — and very tired by the time I got home. Boston Bucket List: The Museum of Illusions What do you actually do in the museum? You walk through a series of rooms that have a cool visual effect. Some are designed primarily to create a cool photo, like the slanted room, “upside down” photo walls, light projections and mirror exhibits. Others are tactile displays where you’re encouraged to physically interact with them. Some are in the form of games. Others are simple displays on the wall. The exhibit that melted my brain the most was the Vortex Tunnel, where you walk across a bridge while the room around you spins like some sort of time-warp acid trip. Photos and videos don’t do it justice. The room doesn’t actually move, but I nearly fell over going across. I found the Museum of Illusions to be really enjoyable because of the recurring feelings of catharsis you get throughout the trip. At most places, you can look around at the cool features and setups. But you’re not really supposed to touch them. Even though you really want to touch them. But your partner knows you want to touch them, so they have their eye on you. Here, you’re encouraged to go walk into the board of pins to make your outline. Go sit in the illusion chair. Go behind the wall and poke your head out of a hole to make it look like you’re disembodied. I also enjoy the fact that the museum embraces the notion that, yes, you want to pose with the illusion to post on social media. We all know we want to do it. Why pretend that we don’t? Now excuse me while I walk into the room of mirrors and try to avoid crashing into a wall on my way out. What it’s like visiting the Museum of Illusions A trip to the Museum of Illusions is wildly different from a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts or even the Museum of Science. The entire facility is pretty small, with tight, winding corridors. During peak hours, it can get pretty packed — with not much motivation to clear out crowded areas. That’s likely why the museum has timed tickets that are set for every 20 minutes. I visited around 3 p.m. on a Thursday, so the crowds weren’t a major factor. There was a healthy stream of visitors rolling through. But I didn’t find myself waiting around much to explore a given exhibit. I can only imagine that weekends are a bit more hectic. So if at all possible, try to avoid peak hours. You’ll have a much better time. The only downside is the price. Tickets are $38 if you book online. I wasn’t in any particular hurry and I was in and out in 30 minutes. So if you’re going with a family, that’s not a ton of bang for your buck More info about the Museum of Illusions The museum has free lockers where you can store your belongings. Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram Where is it located? — The Museum of Illusions is located at 200 State St #2 in Boston. The museum has a handy video here showing where the entrance is. It’s not in Quincy Market proper. Instead, you can find it on the second floor of the row of shops at the eastern edge of Faneuil Hall — on the corner of State Street and John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road. How much does it cost? — $38 for adults, $36 for seniors, $33 for children, $36 for those with a military ID. You can purchase tickets here. Admission is free for children ages 4 and under. What’s the parking situation? - There is no designated parking lot for the Museum of Illusions. If you’re driving, you’ll have to find a street spot or parking garage. How do you get there from public transit? - Nearby T stops are Government Center (Green Line), State (Orange Line) and Aquarium (Blue Line). When are they open? — Here are the business hours at the time of writing: Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
