Entry No. 2 — the Cleveland file — filed under: witchy
Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick
The first museum in the United States dedicated to the history of witchcraft and the occult, housing over 200 artifacts including Raymond Buckland's personal collection, a 'Demon in a Box,' and Gerald Gardner's ritual tools.
The story
In 1966, after traveling to the Isle of Man to study under Wicca pioneer Gerald Gardner, Raymond Buckland established America's first museum devoted to witchcraft and the occult. What started as a private collection in New York migrated across the country for decades before quietly anchoring itself in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood under director Steven Intermill.
Inside, the history of modern Paganism and ritual magic isn't presented as a Halloween gimmick, but as an intimate, physical archive. You are standing inches away from Gerald Gardner's own ritual tools, Raymond Buckland's personal ceremonial garb, dried mandrake roots, ceremonial daggers, and a sealed 'Demon in a Box' that nobody seems eager to open.
What it's like
The museum fits into a single, compact storefront on Broadview Road, which means you need to reserve a timed ticket in advance if you want to get through the door. It is quiet, dense, and slightly intense: you will be standing elbow-to-elbow with fellow visitors peering into dimly lit glass cases packed with hundreds of artifacts. Before you leave, budget time for the front shop, where you can pick up tarot decks, local crystals, and independent occult publications.
The move: Book tickets in advance to tour the densely packed cases of ceremonial daggers and mandrake roots, then browse the gift shop for local crystals and tarot decks.
- 📍 Old Brooklyn
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2155 Broadview Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Pugsley's Room — Pair a tour of historical ceremonial tools with a stop at this tiny 78th Street Studios shop for taxidermy bats and oddities.
- Porco Lounge & Tiki Room — Follow up an afternoon of occult history with strong, rum-soaked tropical drinks in nearby Ohio City.
- Ukrainian Museum-Archives — Trade ceremonial magic for another hyper-focused, meticulously preserved local archive in Tremont.
Good to know
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Yes. The gallery space is small and timed entry slots often sell out ahead of time.
What specific artifacts will I see?
The collection holds over 200 items, including Gerald Gardner's ritual tools, Raymond Buckland's personal occult items, ceremonial daggers, mandrake roots, and the famous 'Demon in a Box.'
Where is the museum located?
You'll find it at 2155 Broadview Rd in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · destinationcleveland.org · cia.edu
last checked: 2026-07-21