Illusions
The Ames Room
← All Exhibits
In the Ames rooms, two objects of the same size can appear dramatically different in height. The illusion is a classic example of forced perspective and how strongly our perception depends on assumptions about depth and space.
Additional Information
The room’s floor, ceiling, and back wall are all slanted, but built at an angle carefully calculated to look flat and square from the one fixed viewing point.
It’s named after American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames Jr., who designed the first one in 1946.