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All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan Houdini Revealed
Houdini Revealed is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

AO Edited

Houdini Revealed

Hidden in an ordinary Midtown building is a one-room museum dedicated to the greatest escape artist.

New York, New York

Added By
Allison Meier
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Bust of Houdini once on his grave   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Bust of Houdini once on his grave   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Straitjacket and posters   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini handcuffs   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
The x-ray of the bullet in Houdini’s hand   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini’s tombstone bust   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Spiritualism debunking objects   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the Houdini Museum   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini’s escape coffin   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
  jensimmons1016 / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini   jensimmons1016 / Atlas Obscura User
1st robot in movies   jensimmons1016 / Atlas Obscura User
  python4816 / Atlas Obscura User
  jensimmons1016 / Atlas Obscura User
“Q” The first Robot ever in a movie!   roger fec64a31 / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini Picks, Secret Devices and Cuffs   roger fec64a31 / Atlas Obscura User
Houdini Coffin That He Escaped from 1907   roger fec64a31 / Atlas Obscura User
  python4816 / Atlas Obscura User
  jensimmons1016 / Atlas Obscura User
Chung Ling Soo Costume Died catching a bullet   roger fec64a31 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located in a nondescript Midtown building right by Penn Station is New York's own Houdini Museum.

Dedicated to the escape artist Harry Houdini, the museum is housed in the Fantasma magic shop. Take the elevator up to the fourth floor, and soon you'll suddenly be surrounded by hundreds of objects from Houdini's history.

There are of course handcuffs and straitjackets, as well as impressive objects like his 1907 escape coffin from which he emerged in 66 minutes after it was secured with six inch nails (illustrations of the achievement line the wooden casket). Numerous framed photographs and posters line the wall, along with curiosities like an x-ray of the bullet in his hand. A cabinet displays some of the objects from Houdini's career in debunking spiritualism which he saw as a misleading use of magic. In a corner is his last metamorphosis chest, and alongside is a plaster bust of the magician that once stood on his grave in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens. 

The items are mainly from the private collection of Fantasma's CEO Roger Dreyer. About two hundred objects are on display, with 1,500 in storage, so the exhibitions regularly change out to show different artifacts. The magic shop is actually right in the museum, so along with the fascinating display from the legacy of one of magic's greatest figures you can try out tricks yourself and make some purchases to propel your own career in illusions. 

Update as of June 2021: The museum is soon relocating to New Jersey.

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Magic Houdini Museums Shops

Know Before You Go

Watch for the sign for a magic shop and take the elevator up to the fourth floor. Admission is a $10 suggested donation.

Community Contributors

Added By

Allison

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, icatsstaci, sweeneysblade, jensimmons1016...

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • icatsstaci
  • sweeneysblade
  • jensimmons1016
  • python4816
  • roger fec64a31

Published

March 2, 2014

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  • A Photo Tour of the Houdini Museum http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-photo-tour-of-the-houdini-museum
Houdini Revealed
Fantasma Magic
213 West 35th Street, 4th Floor
New York, New York, 10001
United States
40.752096, -73.99069
Visit Website
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