Salt Lake’s most mind-bending attraction celebrates one year
Jul 21, 2026 05:32PM ● By Julie Slama
An interactive, uniquely Utah soda shop challenges perception at the Museum of Illusions. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
From the moment visitors step into the Museum of Illusions, they are greeted by a cowboy whose eyes appear to follow every move. The “Following Eyes” exhibit sets the tone for a mind-bending adventure filled with holograms, puzzles, a spinning tunnel and an upside-down dirty soda shop inspired by Utah culture.
Located at The Gateway, the Museum of Illusions has become one of downtown Salt Lake City’s most distinctive attractions and will celebrate its first anniversary in July. The museum features more than 80 exhibits blending science, psychology and entertainment to challenge how visitors perceive the world around them.
Children look into the Museum of Illusions’ Infinity Dodecahedron, a 12-sided mirrored geometrical object. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Founded in 2015 by Roko Živković and Tomislav Pamuković in Zagreb, Croatia, the Museum of Illusions has expanded to nearly 70 cities across 29 countries, including New York, Las Vegas, Dubai and Sydney.
The museum provides a hands-on experience that challenges the mind, said Pien Koopman, Museum of Illusions public relations manager for the United States.
“Today’s audiences are actively seeking meaningful, shared experiences — something that sparks curiosity, creativity and a little wonder,” she said. “We see families, couples on dates, tourists exploring the city, corporate groups and school field trips all coming through our doors.”
Popular attractions include the Vortex Tunnel, where a spinning cylinder creates the illusion of losing balance while visitors walk across a stable bridge, and Ames Room, which makes guests appear to grow or shrink depending on where they stand.
Nearby holograms, optical illusions and mirrored rooms contribute to the sensory experience. The museum also includes a game room filled with hands-on puzzles and logic challenges that encourage problem-solving or teamwork.
Through dozens of rooms and 89 exhibits, Museum of Illusions visitors will be challenged how to perceive the world around them. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“There’s something for everybody,” said Molly Belyea, of Bread & Butter PR agency. “Whether you’re going on a date night, going with friends or bringing your family, it’s a fun way to connect with your group and experience something immersive.”
The museum’s Utah-exclusive exhibits make the Salt Lake City location memorable. In addition to the Following Eyes cowboy inspired by Utah’s western heritage, visitors can explore a Victorian-style building illusion modeled after Salt Lake City architecture and the upside-down dirty soda shop exhibit, which has become favorite photo opportunities.
“The dirty soda shop is fun and definitely unique to Utah; all the locations have unique elements that make it fun,” Belyea said.
Beyond the illusions, the museum also emphasizes education. Each exhibit includes explanations about the illusion, helping visitors understand how the brain interprets images.
“One thing I love about the museum is that after you look at each illusion, there is a description of the science and psychology behind why you saw what you saw,” Belyea said.
Salt Lake’s Guest Services Manager Kacie Olney said a lot of people come in to question what they believe is real.
A youngster tries out the walk-in kaleidoscope at the Museum of Illusions. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“The best part is when they wonder, solve and puzzle,” she said. “Many are shocked by illusions and others are inspired.”
Koopman is proud of the support the museum has received from the Salt Lake City community.
“Salt Lake City has welcomed us with open arms and seeing how guests of all ages, from young kids discovering optical illusions for the first time to adults who can’t believe what their eyes are telling them, connect with the experience is something that never gets old,” she said.
The museum’s one-year anniversary celebration exhibits will be announced soon on the website, moisaltlakecity.com, where tickets can be purchased online. Guests choose a timed-entry ticket for a specific day or they can purchase a flexible ticket usable anytime. Educators receive free admission with proper identification. Family and group tickets are also available.
“We want every visitor to leave with a sense of wonder and something they learned without even realizing it. Every illusion in the museum is rooted in real science, principles of math, physics, psychology and biology that explain how the brain processes what we see. Guests don’t just walk away with great photos; they leave understanding something new about how their own mind works,” Koopman said. “At its core, Museum of Illusions is about celebrating the wonder of the human mind, and that’s something we hope stays with every visitor long after they leave.”
The Museum of Illusions, located in The Gateway, offers visitors provides a hands-on experience that challenges the mind. (Juile Slama/City Journals)
