When you think you’ve exhausted every kid-friendly museum in town, a new one pops up to surprise you. Enter Museum of Illusions Santa Monica, now open in the heart of Third Street Promenade, inviting visitors to explore 12,000 square feet of creative, interactive installations.
Inside, mind-bending rooms play tricks on your perception, making you appear larger than life, upside down or as if you’re seeing double. As the 66th Museum of Illusions worldwide, with locations across 28 countries, the Santa Monica outpost pays homage to L.A. with a rockabilly-inspired “following eyes” mural, a climate-themed California Art Deco hotel-façade building illusion and a reversed room reminiscent of the vintage Hollywood bowling alley, Star Lanes.
These clever installations aren’t just fun, they’re also educational. Visitors learn about vision, perception and how the human brain interprets the world through science-based explanations. The museum has even earned the STEM.org Accredited Educational Experience Trustmark.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with extended hours until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets range from $30–$43, with a $118 family four-pack available. Free admission for teachers and educators.
Museum of Illusions Santa Monica is located at 1232 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, 90401.
