This is not a mirage — Museum of Illusions San Diego (MoI) is now open at 665 Fifth Ave. in the Gaslamp Quarter, making it the brand’s first California location. Here’s what you need to know about the latest addition to SD’s museums scene.
The global MoI brand is all about science-meets-illusions exhibits designed to teach visitors “that nothing is ever quite as it seems.”
Local visitors can expect the 10,000-sqft space to be brimming with 80+ immersive, mind-bending installations, “Illusion Rooms,” 3D holograms, and images that question perception vs. reality. Many of the displays incorporate light and physics, too.
The downtown museum also features exclusive installations inspired by San Diego’s coastal beauty and surf culture, like the surf-themed reverse room. There’s also a display where visitors can walk on the façade of Old Town’s historic Colorado House.
Ready to take the trip? Museum of Illusions San Diego is open Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are available now — kids ages 4 and under, teachers, and educators get in free with a valid school ID.

Nothing is ever quite as it seems here.
Photo via Museum of Illusions