urbanSTL

Museum of Illusions opens later this month at the Foundry. VIP preview on the 20th, which I’ll attend since my wife is the museums local publicist.



The Museum of Illusions, a global chain of museums that features what the company calls “mind-bending illusions” and other interactive exhibits, has been growing quickly. The company was founded by friends Roko Živković and Tomislav Pamuković in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2015, and has since expanded to have nearly 50 locations open across 25 countries.

The company’s 9,000-square-foot space in St. Louis is “dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of optical illusions and visual perception,” officials said in a release.

The St. Louis location will feature several of the exhibits the Museum of Illusions is known for, such as the “Walk-in Kaleidoscope,” the “Vortex Tunnel” and the “Infinity Room.” It will also feature several attractions unique to St. Louis, including a baseball player who “seems unable to take his eyes off visitors,” an upside-down traditional smokehouse, and an “engaging reinterpretation” of St. Louis' city hall, the company said.

The Museum of Illusions' St. Louis location will feature several exhibits featured at other locations around the world, like the "Infinity Room."
Courtesy of Museum of Illusions
"St. Louis has long been a hub of cultural innovation and creativity, and we are thrilled to bring the Museum of Illusions to this dynamic city," Chief Executive Kim Schaefer said in a statement. "Our goal is to not only entertain but also to inspire curiosity and spark the imagination of everyone who walks through our doors."

The company didn’t announce its ticket prices. A single adult ticket to the company’s Kansas City location costs $15, while a single children’s ticket costs $10, according to its website.

The Riverfront Times reported earlier this year that the Museum of Illusions was looking to open in the St. Louis’ City Foundry development, citing building permits filed with the city. The city has issued several building permits pertaining to the attraction, including an unspecified permit for $60,000 on Feb. 1, a mechanical permit for $288,000 on Feb. 6, an electrical permit for $5,000 on April 3 and an additional electrical permit for $1,500 on April 15, city records show.

"We wanted to create a space where guests of all backgrounds and abilities could come together to explore, learn and have fun," Steve Garmon, who will serve as the St. Louis location’s general manager, said in a release. "The Museum of Illusions St. Louis is not just a museum; it's a place where imagination knows no bounds, and every visitor can become a part of the art."

The Museum of Illusions will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The $300 million City Foundry development is a project of New + Found, helmed by Steve Smith and his son Will Smith. City Foundry's first phase was the redevelopment of a 15-acre former manufacturing site into retail, entertainment and office space. Construction on City Foundry's second phase – which will include a 14-story residential tower, set to open later this summer, and an 83,000-square-foot-office building – began in January 2022 and is to conclude next year.