Houdini Museum

The Houdini Museum is a small, eccentric collection occupying an old building on North Main Avenue, run by professional magicians who present an in-person magic show as part of every visit. It houses original Houdini posters, props, letters, and recordings, along with a number of historic stage illusions you can see worked at close range.

The visit is more theatrical than museumlike — a guided walkthrough, a live show, perhaps a meet with one of the resident illusionists. Tours run on weekends only; tickets cost around 17 dollars. It is not a serious archive but it is a genuinely fun two hours, and the Houdini connection to Scranton is real.

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A story
Harry Houdini performed his famous suspended straitjacket escape over Scranton's Main Street in 1916, dangling from a crane in front of an estimated 25,000 spectators. He was paid 100 dollars and ate at a local restaurant afterwards. The museum here is the only one in the world devoted to him.

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