Baltimore connection to Ouija
In addition to a room exclusively dedicated to the Ouija® Board and its Baltimore history, there will also be a complementary exhibit dedicated to other William Fuld creations. William Fuld and his family not only launched a craze that made the Ouija Board a household name, they also invented and manufactured many other parlor games. Many don’t realize that the Fulds were responsible for making Baltimore the epicenter for toy and game manufacturing in the United States.
Ouija® historian Robert Murch has spent over 18 years working tirelessly with the Maryland Archives, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore City Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation, Baltimore Mayor’s office, the Fuld Family and the Historical Society of Kent County to document and preserve the history of this U.S. pop icon. Much of this Ouija and Talking Board history, along with boards from around the world, are being made available for the first time to the public outside of private collections.
“Many people don’t realize that up until Hollywood gave the Ouija® Board a bad rap in the 70s, it was used as a parlor or party game in homes around North America,” said Robert Murch. “For over a century this pop icon has evolved to reflect society’s changing trends while at the same time captivating a nation by inspiring both wonder and fear.” OUIJA® is a trademark of Hasbro.
Museum hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. It is located at 1415 Key Highway, in downtown Baltiomre. Parking is free and the exhibit is free with general admission. Call 410-727-4808 or visit the Baltimore Museum of Industry website for details.
