American Museum of Magic facts for kids
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| Established | April 1, 1978 |
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| Location | Marshall, Michigan |
The American Museum of Magic is a super cool place in Marshall, Michigan. It's filled with amazing magic tricks and illusions! You can even see many items that belonged to the famous magician Harry Blackstone Sr., who lived from 1885 to 1965.
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Discovering the Magic Collection
The American Museum of Magic is the biggest magic museum in the United States that you can visit. It has a huge collection of items from many magicians, both famous and less known. For example, it has tricks from Clare Cummings, who was known as 'Milky The Twin Pines Magic Clown'. He gave most of his magic tricks to this museum.
A Special Place for Magic History
This museum celebrates the amazing art of magic. It also shows how much magicians love their craft. The museum first opened its doors on April 1, 1978. It celebrated its 30th birthday in 2008. A special marker at the museum says it has a "unique collection." It celebrates the "magician's arts of wonder and delight."
Michigan has a special connection to magic. Nearby Colon, Michigan, is a center for making magic tricks. It was also the home of Harry Blackstone Sr. Some people even call this museum "the Smithsonian Museum of magic." It has thousands of files on many performers. This includes people like Doug Henning and Donna Delberts. Donna was known as 'the world's only lady fire eater'.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a massive collection of items. It includes 2,009 posters and handbills. There are also 587 show-bills and over 5,000 programs. You can find 10,000 books and 24,000 magazines. Plus, there are 46,000 photos!
The collection also features magic tools and magic sets. There are letters, diaries, and scrapbooks. It even has half a million pieces of "ephemera" (things meant to be used for a short time). The museum's special archive is called the Lund Memorial Library. It holds information on thousands of lesser-known illusionists. Famous magician David Copperfield has called it "one of my favorite places on earth."
Famous Magic Tricks on Display
Some of the most important exhibits include:
- Doug Henning's "Zig Zag" illusion.
- Various tools used by Howard Thurston. He had "one of the largest illusion shows across America."
- The “Milk Can” and "Overboard Box" used by Harry Houdini.
The Museum's Story
The American Museum of Magic was started by Robert Lund and his wife, Elaine Lund. Robert Lund was a writer and editor from the Detroit area. He loved collecting magic items. He decided early on that he wasn't good enough to be a world-class magician. So, he chose to become the best student of magic history instead. He wanted to collect everything he could find about his favorite art. He "ultimately gathered a collection that grew to be one of the world's largest and greatest."
The Museum Building
The museum is located in a 140-year-old Victorian building. It was built in 1868. Over the years, it has been a saloon, a billiard hall, and a clothing store. It is at 107 East Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan.
Bob and Elaine Lund carefully restored the building. Elaine silk-screened window posters. She also restored floors and installed cabinets. They "put their heart and souls into the Museum." The City of Marshall was so impressed that they gave the Lunds a silver cup.
How the Museum Works
In 2005, a new group of directors took over the museum. They have worked to make it even better. The American Museum of Magic, Inc. is a charity. This means it is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
The museum offers many activities. You can take group tours or field trips. They also have virtual tours and online workshops for students. The Lund Memorial Library holds much of the museum's collection. Researchers can visit it by making an appointment. Every October, the museum hosts a special event. It features amazing magic tricks and escapes.
Magician Terry Evanswood even received an award from the museum.
Other Harry Blackstone Exhibits
In 1985, Harry Blackstone Jr. gave a special gift to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. This was on the 100th birthday of his father, Harry Blackstone Sr. He donated the original floating light bulb. Thomas Edison himself designed and built it! He also gave the original Casadega Cabinet. This was used in the "Dancing Handkerchief" illusion. This was the first time the Smithsonian accepted a donation in the field of magic.
See also
- List of magic museums
