Don’t be surprised when Benjamin Franklin’s eyes follow you upon entering the Museum of Illusions in Boston.
The multi-colored mural of the late Founding Father’s face is just one of several installations that make the new Boston museum stand out from its other locations in the country.
The Museum of Illusions, which officially opens Saturday, Nov. 23, features roughly 80 exhibits from interactive rooms and mind-bending installations to puzzling images.
Its Boston outpost is its first in New England. And it’s among the chain’s largest, occupying a roughly 10,000-square-foot space near Faneuil Hall.
While the museum houses several fan-favorite oddities such as its famous Beuchet Chair and Tilted Room, there will be elements specific to Boston that pay homage to the city’s architecture and historical figures.
They include the “Following Eyes” wall — an optical illusion in which hollow concave eyes look normal until you start moving, and then they appear to be following you.
While this installation is present at other Museum of Illusions sites around the country, Franklin’s face is specific to Boston. The politician was born at 17 Milk St. in Boston on Sunday, Jan. 17, 1706, according to The Franklin Institute.
Once you escape Franklin’s glare, you can find another Boston twist on a classic illusion called “Building Illusion.”
This installation lets visitors defy gravity by walking on the front of a building. This is accomplished with the use of several mirrors that reflect the floor at a 45-degree angle. The illusion’s facade was modeled after a building on Fulton Street in Boston’s North End.
Once you’ve almost made it through the entire museum, you’ll find another illusion that can only be found in Boston.
The “Cylinder Illusion” illustrates a type of anamorphic perspective, in which a distorted image appears normal when you look at the cylindrical mirror. In this case, an elongated sculpture of a chicken and egg will look distorted until you look at the mirror, which is located in the center of the case.
In addition to installations, the new Museum of Illusions in Boston also houses educational games for people of all ages.
The first Museum of Illusions opened in Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia, in 2015, according to the museum. It has described itself as the “fastest-growing” such chain in the world.
The Museum of Illusions has more than 50 locations across 25 countries and four continents, including Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas.
The new Boston museum is located at Marketplace Center at 200 State St.
Tickets for the Museum of Illusions Boston are available online. They are $38 for adults (13 years old and older), $33 for children ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under.
Teachers who show their school ID can get into the museum for free on any Tuesday throughout the year. Discounted tickets are also available for seniors, students, and military members.
The Museum of Illusions Boston is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
