Robert Lund, who was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1925, spent his lifetime collecting and preserving magic memorabilia. Today, his collection is housed in the American Museum of Magic, the largest privately owned museum of its kind. Located half way between Chicago and Detroit in Marshall, Michigan, the American Museum of Magic plays host to thousands of visitors every year.
Unlike other museums, the American Museum of Magic is devoted to the entertainment side of magic, not the occult or religious magic. Nearly one million items, some hundreds of year old, call this museum home, and although preference is to American magicians, the collection includes artifacts and information on magic from around the world. Some of the items visitors can find here include artwork, costumes, props, letters, and personal items belonging to some of the world's most famous magicians.
The American Museum of Magic is home to a library of over 15,000 books and periodicals relating to magic. Along with biographies and writings of some well-known names in the world of magic, the museum also has an archive filled with information on little-known magicians. In additions, visitors can find thousands of books explaining how to perform magic tricks. Near the library is the Irving Desfor collection, which includes over 20,000 photographs dating back to the 16th century as well as including modern magic photography.
One of the most popular exhibits in the American Museum of Magic celebrates the life of Harry Houdini, arguably the world's most famous magician of all. The museum houses the original Milk Can and Overboard Box equipment, used for some of this magician's most popular tricks. Other popular exhibits include Harry Blackston's Jam Illusions box, stage outfits worn by Milky the Clown and Senor Rey, one of Jay Marshall's ventriloquist dummies, and a French scroll that once belongs to Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin. Lund also collected items from lesser-known magicians and rare magic-related memorabilia, such as original Mandrake comics, posters and banners for strangely-named performers, and a Marshall Brodini magic set, one of only 500 ever made.
The American Museum of Magic was first open to the public in the 1970s, when Lund and his wife, Elaine, moved to Marshall and bought a three-story building to house the collection. In 1999, Elaine expanded the museum's space to display even more items in what was once the town's old library. Even with this additional room, there are still thousands of items in storage waiting to be displayed.
Lund passed away in 1995, and his wife established a board of directors and a volunteer staff to help her keep the museum running. She passed away in 2006, and today, the museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization fully run by the board. They are open only by appointment, and tourists can call 269-781-7570 to set a time to see the collection for a minimal fee of $5 for adults and $3.50 for children. They also have group rates available. Marshall is located near Colon, Michigan, which has been christened the "Magic Capital of the World,'' as the home of Abbott's Magic Company and the an annual magic festival.
