Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick is a unique cultural space in Cleveland dedicated to the history of magic, folklore, and the occult. Founded in 1966 by the renowned author Raymond Buckland, the museum was the first public institution in the USA to explore mystical traditions through the lens of anthropology and education.

The exhibition includes more than 600 authentic artifacts collected from around the world. Here you can see personal items of the "father of modern Wicca" Gerald Gardner, ancient Egyptian ushabti figures, and mysterious mandrake roots. The museum doesn't just display objects; it tells the story of humanity's spiritual quests, dispelling popular stereotypes about witches and sorcerers.

Today, under the leadership of Stephen Intermill, the museum serves as an important portal into America's occult heritage. This place attracts both curious tourists and researchers, offering them an opportunity to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of mystery and encounter authentic ritual tools, helmets, and historical manuscripts.

For details about visiting or organizing group tours, you can contact the museum administration directly. The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick actively engages with visitors through its official website and by phone.

In the museum's galleries, visitors can take a detailed look at the rich collection of ritual items. Special attention should be paid to the horned ceremonial helmet of the High Priest and the crescent-shaped headpieces. These items, which belonged to the Buckland family, allow you to touch the living history of 20th-century magical practices.

Studying the exhibits is accompanied by reading informative materials that reveal the significance of Egyptian funerary figures or the rare alruna—the mandrake root. Guests can see personal belongings of famous magicians and fortune-tellers that have been passed down to the museum over six decades. This immersion into "outsider art" helps one understand how modern neopagan movements have evolved.

Photography is permitted during the tour (in certain areas and with administration permission), allowing you to capture rare occult curiosities. Also, don't miss the opportunity to discuss what you've seen with the staff—their deep knowledge will help you better understand the context of each artifact and appreciate its significance to cultural heritage.

Getting to the museum, located in the historic Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, is quite easy by both private and public transportation. If you prefer buses, use RTA routes 80 or 86, which run from the city center directly to a stop near Broadview Road.

For those arriving from Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) airport, the fastest way is by taxi or through Uber and Lyft services. The trip will take only 15–20 minutes. If you are traveling by car, from downtown Cleveland it is most convenient to take I-71 S or I-77 S to the intersection with Broadview Rd. Convenient parking for visitors is provided next to the museum.

The story of this unusual place began in 1966 when Raymond Buckland, a protégé of the famous Gerald Gardner, opened an exhibition in his Long Island basement. It was the first museum of its kind in the USA, offering an anthropological perspective on witchcraft and folklore. Buckland, as the author of fundamental works on Wicca, sought to dispel the myths and fears surrounding the subject in the 1960s.

Over the decades, the collection has made a true journey across the states: from New York to New Hampshire, then to Virginia and New Orleans. For some time, the artifacts were even in storage, hidden from public view, until the rights to the collection passed to the Temple of Sacrifice in 2015. It was then that the revival of the museum in its modern form began in Cleveland under the leadership of director Stephen Intermill.

Today, the museum houses more than 600 unique items, many of which were donated by practicing magicians and pagan leaders from around the world. Over its decades of existence, the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick has transformed from a private collection into a nationally recognized center for the study of occult history, while maintaining an atmosphere of mystery and authenticity.

To take your time exploring all the displays and delve into the history of the artifacts presented, most visitors need about 1 to 2 hours. This is plenty of time to read the accompanying materials and appreciate the details of the collection.

If you have a deep interest in the history of the occult, you may want to stay longer to chat with the museum staff, who are always ready to share the context behind certain exhibits. In any case, a visit to the museum will be a great addition to a half-day cultural program.

When planning your visit, please note the museum's operating hours. Keep in mind that doors close slightly earlier on Sundays, while hours are extended on Fridays and Saturdays for the convenience of evening visitors.

• Monday — Thursday: 12:00 – 18:00
• Friday — Saturday: 12:00 – 19:00
• Sunday: 12:00 – 16:00

After immersing yourself in the world of magical artifacts, it is worth spending time at other interesting locations in the city. The Cleveland area offers both educational leisure and entertainment for the whole family, allowing you to make your travel itinerary as rich as possible.