The Averbook Magic Art Museum and Library is a private museum in Cleveland, Ohio with limited access and by appointment only. The purpose of this museum is to increase awareness and promote research of the magical creative and performance arts by understanding their contributions to human history.
From lock picks and hand cuffs to rare books, photographs, posters and apparatus, this collection covers a wide range of artifacts and life contributions from the most famous magician of all time; Harry Houdni.
One of the most well known magician’s names of the 20th century. Harry Blackstone, Sr. and Jr. wowed audiences all over the world. Here you’ll see some of their personal apparatus, posters, photos and artifacts.
Featured in the museum are many famous magicians that hail from Ohio including Howard Thurston, Maurice Raymond, Paul Fox, George Stock, McDonald Birch. Ohio has a rich magic history and contributed greatly to the art.
The clever, creative Cleveland magician who skyrocketed to fame and performed in Europe and the US. His inventions in magic were superlative and have influenced magicians of today.
The sixth (or fifth depending on historical interpretation) generational magician in a lineage from Holland who was a marvelous performer and creator of fine and beautiful magic apparatus. He escaped the Nazis just before WWII. He posed as a Chinese performer with a Japanese title. Have you ever wondered where the term “bamboozle” comes from?
Dai Vernon was one of magic's most influential magicians of the 20th Century. Born in Canada, he became the beacon of light in Los Angeles, drawing magicians to him to watch his wonderful conjuring with cards, coins, linking rings, cups and balls plus anything he touched. His teachings on magic created a shock wave of concepts, techniques and influenced hundreds of magic students in this performance art.
The Averbook represents more than a mere museum; it stands as a valuable resource catering to both magicians and the general public alike.
On Monday night, September 8, 2025, the Hollywood Magic Castle conducted another amazing "Behind the Bookcase event" with me, a.k.a. Dr. Bruce Averbook, John Cox, Mike Caveney, and Michael Albright, discussing our new book: Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897–1899.
Houdini’s earliest known diary from my collection with annotations is now published and available for purchase! This is the first time a diary of Houdini has been published!
On Thursday evening, October 9, 2025, The Averbook Magic ArtMuseum & Library hosted magic history author Jim Hagy, who returned to his native Cleveland for one evening to talk about his recent books.
As Halloween approaches, we remember Harry Houdini (Erich Weiss) born March 24, 1874
What a beautiful and stunning museum! Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. It is truly one-of-a-kind and exceptional. Thank you for hosting us and thank you for making this wonderful history available to our community.
Your lifetime of collecting and love for magic is impressive, Bruce! Thank you for preserving this legacy for future generations. I wish you continued success with your collecting endeavors. (Thank you also for your hospitality!)
