7 Shocking Secrets Inside Baltimore's Witch Board Museum: The True History Of The Ouija

Step inside the veil. As of late 2025, the Witch Board Museum Baltimore stands as one of the world's premier destinations for exploring the cryptic and misunderstood history of the talking board, commonly known as the Ouija. Located in the historic Hampden neighborhood, this unique institution offers a deep dive into the Victorian-era Spiritualism Movement and the surprising commercial origins of the "game" that once outsold Monopoly. The museum’s collection, curated by a leading expert in the field, reveals that the Ouija board's true story is far stranger and more fascinating than any horror movie has ever portrayed, especially given that its commercial birthplace was right here in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1890.

Far from a simple novelty shop, the Witch Board Museum Baltimore is a serious historical archive, chronicling the evolution of the spirit board from a parlor game designed for fortune-telling to a notorious symbol of the paranormal. Founded by collector and historian John Kozik, the museum is the culmination of decades of research, providing visitors with a fresh, updated perspective on this enigmatic artifact. It’s a must-see for anyone curious about the intersection of American business, occult history, and the relentless human desire to communicate with the great beyond.

The Curator and The Collection: John Kozik's Legacy

The Witch Board Museum Baltimore is the brainchild of John Kozik, a world-renowned collector and historian of talking boards. His expertise provides the museum with a level of topical authority unmatched by other pop-culture exhibits. Kozik is not just a collector; he is a founding member and the Treasurer of the Talking Board Historical Society (TBHS), the leading organization dedicated to preserving the history of these artifacts.

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His journey began with an inheritance—his grandmother's board—which sparked an obsession that led him to dedicate over three decades to the research and acquisition of rare talking boards. Before opening the Baltimore location, Kozik established his first, groundbreaking venture: the Salem Witch Board Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, which opened in 2018/2019 and is often credited as the world's first museum dedicated solely to the Ouija board. The Baltimore location is the next logical step, bringing the history back to the board's city of origin.

The collection itself is extraordinary, featuring boards so rare that there are often fewer than 50 known copies of many of the exhibits on display. Visitors are treated to a chronological journey through the history of the spirit board, from its early forms to the mass-produced versions that became household names.

7 Secrets of the Ouija Board Unlocked at the Museum

The museum is designed to answer the most persistent questions about the spirit board, debunking myths and replacing them with verifiable history. These are some of the most compelling insights visitors gain from a tour of the Hampden location:

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1. Baltimore is the True Birthplace of the Ouija

Many believe the Ouija board is an ancient or purely occult artifact, but its commercial history is definitively American and began in Baltimore. In 1890, a group of businessmen, including Charles Kennard, Elijah Bond (a local attorney), and Washington Bowie, formed the Kennard Novelty Company right here in Charm City. They patented the board—which they claimed named itself when the planchette spelled out "Ouija"—and began mass production. The museum highlights the original patent drawings and early advertisements from Baltimore newspapers, cementing the city's role as the board's true home.

2. The Name "Witch Board" is a Historical Artifact

The museum’s name, Witch Board Museum, is a nod to the board’s earliest marketing. Curator John Kozik explains that the term "witch" in this context did not initially refer to witchcraft or the occult. Instead, it was associated with fortune-telling and parlor games, which were considered harmless entertainment during the Victorian era. The collection features boards from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the Egyptian Luck Board (advertised in 1919) and the The Witches' Fortune Teller (1895), which were explicitly marketed as tools for predicting the future.

3. The Spiritualism Movement Fueled Its Popularity

The Ouija board's success was directly tied to the Spiritualism Movement that swept through America in the mid-to-late 19th century, particularly after the devastating losses of the Civil War. People were desperate to communicate with deceased loved ones, and the Spiritualists believed the dead could talk to the living. The museum showcases how talking boards—or spirit boards—were a natural and affordable evolution of the more cumbersome and expensive séances and mediumship sessions.

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4. The Rarest Boards Are Not What You Expect

Forget the common boards sold by Parker Brothers or Hasbro; the Witch Board Museum’s collection is a treasure trove of obscure and extremely rare talking boards. These include early, pre-Ouija boards and strange variations from competing manufacturers. Examples of the types of rare boards in the Kozik collection include the The Mitche Manitou Board (c. 1917) and various other novelty boards that attempted to cash in on the Ouija craze. The rarity of these vintage artifacts is what gives the museum its significant historical weight.

5. The William Fuld Feud and The Board's True Owner

The history of the Ouija board is rife with corporate drama. After the initial success of the Kennard Novelty Company, one of its early employees, William Fuld, took over the manufacturing license. Fuld was a brilliant self-promoter who famously claimed he invented the board and was responsible for popularizing it for decades. The museum details the legal battles and the complex history of ownership, showing how Fuld’s marketing genius cemented the Ouija board in the American psyche, even as he obscured the original Baltimore inventors like Elijah Bond.

6. The Science Behind the Movement: The Ideomotor Effect

While the museum celebrates the board's mysterious nature, it also delves into the scientific explanation for how the planchette moves. The exhibit explores the Ideomotor Effect, a psychological phenomenon where a person’s subconscious thoughts or expectations can cause small, involuntary muscle movements. This effect is widely accepted as the mechanism behind the planchette's movement, providing a rational counterpoint to the paranormal claims and offering a complete picture of the board's cultural impact.

7. The Museum is Above a Shop in Hampden

Unlike a traditional, sprawling institution, the Witch Board Museum Baltimore is a self-guided tour located above the unique and eclectic shop Bazaar at 3534 Chestnut Ave in the vibrant Hampden neighborhood. Its location adds to the esoteric charm, making the visit feel like an intimate discovery rather than a large-scale, impersonal museum experience. This setting reinforces the idea that the secrets of the spirit board are often found in unexpected, hidden places.

Visiting the Witch Board Museum Baltimore

The Witch Board Museum Baltimore is a vital cultural landmark, especially for those interested in the history of American popular culture, the occult, and the enduring nature of the spirit board. It serves as a spiritual successor to the earlier, critically acclaimed Ouija exhibit held at the Baltimore Museum of Industry and continues the work of the Talking Board Historical Society in preserving these fascinating artifacts.

Location and Hours:

• Address: 3534 Chestnut Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211 (Above Bazaar).
• Hours: Generally open noon to 5 p.m. every day, except for Tuesdays and major holidays. It is highly recommended to check the current hours before planning a visit.

The museum’s dedication to historical accuracy and its collection of "wicked rare" boards make it a powerful resource for historians, paranormal enthusiasts, and the simply curious. By visiting, you are not just looking at a game; you are investigating a powerful piece of Baltimore’s industrial and cultural legacy—a legacy that continues to spark curiosity and controversy well into the 21st century.