A charming museum dedicated to the history of not only the Ouija board, its connection to the city of Baltimore, and the complicated past that goes along with it.
The idea of a "talking board" emerged from a 19th-century spiritualist movement, the belief that the dead can communicate with the living through specific methods. In 1890, Baltimore businessman Charles Kennard gathered a group of investors to capitalize on this idea by manufacturing the boards for widespread distribution. When deciding what to call their new product, they asked the board what it wanted to be called. In response, it spelled out the now-iconic name: “o-u-i-j-a.” When asked about the meaning of the esoteric name, the board replied simply, “Good luck.”
The Ouija board was patented by Baltimore attorney Elijah Bond (whose grave is carved into the shape of the iconic talking board). In 1966, the toy company Parker Brothers purchased the rights to Ouija. Within a year of their purchase, they had sold some 2 million boards. The board has become deeply embedded in pop culture, from its appearance in movies like The Exorcist and Paranormal Activity to comics, television shows, and more.
The Witch Board Museum opened its Baltimore outpost in May 2024. It's the second outpost created by founder John Kozik, who is also the brains behind the Salem Witch Board Museum.
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