Nothing Is What It Seems at Museum of Illusions Seattle

Nothing is quite as it seems at Museum of Illusions, Seattle’s newest attraction located in the heart of the city’s bustling downtown. It’s a permanent addition that just opened on June 28.

There’s more to this museum than meets the eye. Designed to challenge perceptions and enthrall visitors of all ages, Museum of Illusions is a mind-bending attraction you need to see to believe — and even then, you may question what you see.

Museum of Illusions exhibits

While it’s new to Seattle, the first Museum of Illusions opened in Croatia in 2015. Since then, more than 45 museums have opened across the world, with more locations planned.

The family-friendly museum is designed for all ages, offering more than 9,000 square feet of interactive exhibits to explore. But it will especially delight little ones with dazzling displays, Instagram-worthy photo stops and perception-perplexing illusions. Expect to spend 45–90 minutes touring the museum, where you’ll see different installations, illusion rooms, images and holograms.

Around every corner, my kids’ wide eyes and ear-to-ear smiles grew bigger and bigger. Each astounded and enthusiastic, “How is that even possible?” from their little lips made the trip into the city well worth it. They gave the museum two big thumbs up.

What my kids loved most at Museum of Illusions

The “Reversed Room,” which pays homage to Seattle’s iconic monorail, was one of our favorite exhibits. The room was designed to make it seem as if you are levitating upside down inside a monorail car. My kids had a blast hanging from the handrails, and they loved that they could strike a pose and look like a certain web-slinger hanging from the monorail’s ceiling. Trust me, you’ll want your camera ready for this exhibit.

Throughout Museum of Illusions, little blue circles are placed at the foot of the displays; they highlight the best place to snap a quick picture to capture the illusion. Details along the gallery walls include what to do in the exhibit, and what makes the masterful illusions happen. My kids loved understanding the science behind it all.

Everything in the museum is meant to be touched, experienced, photographed and enjoyed — so take your time meandering through the expansive displays.

Other exhibits my kids couldn’t get enough of were the kaleidoscope room and the “Vortex Tunnel.”

What’s better than one of you — a thousand! Walk into the kaleidoscope room and you will feel as if you go on and on forever.

The “Vortex Tunnel” is one of the last exhibits, and it’s an immersive and dizzyingly delightful way to end your trip to the museum. Grab onto those handrails as you stroll through the spinning tunnel. The further into the tunnel you get, the more your world will start to tilt.

Make a day of it downtown

After you visit the Museum of Illusions, take a stroll to the nearby waterfront and Pike Place Market for some lunch and local fares. It’s the perfect way to spend a day in Seattle.