The House of Houdini

The museum's collection includes original Houdini memorabilia: e.g., handcuffs, personal correspondence, and "precious artifacts." A Bible once owned by Houdini is part of the collection.[4][2][5][6] It also includes original props from the Houdini film – Oxygen (1999), which featured Adrien Brody, an Oscar winner, and the later miniseries.[7][1] The facility opened on June 16, 2016.[7][8]

Budapest was selected as the location of the museum as Houdini was born in the city.[2]

The museum is the product of David Merlini, an escapologist who served as technical advisor on the Houdini miniseries.[upper-alpha 1] Its artifacts were previewed at Budapest's National Széchényi Library. This followed an earlier exhibition in Milan, Italy.[10]

The venue is also a center for research into Houdini's life, highlighting his Hungarian origin.[2][3][11][4] and Jewish.[2] Notwithstanding his Hungarian birth, Houdini never performed in Hungary.[5]

Six magicians rotate performance in the museum's small theater.[3]

As of September, admission is 2,400 forints for adults and 1,350 forints for children under age 11. English, Italian and Hungarian language guided tours are available.[12] Visitor entrance can only be gained through decoding a secret "arcane" message; if the visitor fails to solve it, they refund the price of admission.

The House of Houdini has been jointly recognized as a world magic heritage institution by the National President of the Society of American Magicians and the International President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.[13]

This "house" should not be confused with the "House of Houdini" which was a former Houdini home, purchased in 1908, at 278 West 113th Street, Harlem, now called Morningside Heights, New York City that also displays artifacts.[14][15][16]

Likewise, in 1919 he rented the cottage at 2435 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles, while making movies for Lasky Pictures. His wife occupied it for a time after his death. As of 2011 the site of the cottage was a vacant lot and up for sale.[15] The main mansion building itself was rebuilt after it was destroyed in the 1959 Laurel Canyon fire, and is now a historic venue called The Mansion.[17] While Houdini did not likely live at the "mansion," there is some probability that his widow did.[18]

News reports in the preceding months had raised the suspiction that the majority stake of Museum and its assets were to be purchased by Centurion, a US based capital fund for $18.6M. The offer was reportedly turned down by the owner David Merlini.[19]

• American Museum of Magic
• David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, which is closed to the public
• The History Museum at the Castle (Appleton Wisconsin)
• Houdini Museum (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
• Houdini Museum of New York
• University of Texas Library houses Houdini ephemera and a large collection of Houdini letters and manuscripts.[4]

• List of magic museums

• House of Houdini Official website