A Short History of Mirror Mazes

Mirror mazes have made an appearance in different cultures all around the world. Now they are used to represent some part of the culture of the country or, at least, a city. Also, being a source of attraction and fun time for people of all ages. MirrorMazeIraq®, the first and the only mirror maze in Iraq is now open in the city of Sulaimani.

To understand mirror mazes, it is essential to learn about their history around the world. In this article, we will mostly focus on the origin and history of mirror mazes, how they started, and when did they go global.

The first known mirror maze was built in 1689 in Versailles, Yvelines, France. It was located in the Palace of Versailles. The site was a very distinctive part of the castle; it amazed all visitors from around the region. Even though we can argue that this hall of mirrors was not meant to be a maze, the design and the placement of the mirrors gave a sense of illusion, and it certainly felt like a maze.

After a visit from Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch of New Amsterdam, now famously known as New York, the site amazed him. The design and the beauty of the "Hall of Mirror" in the Palace of Versailles fascinated him. He was determined to build something similar in New Amsterdam, which he did.

Later, he [Peter Stuyvesant] decided to share this fascinating hall with the public. Therefore, he opened it for the people and charged them one Dutch gulden per person. This decision made way for mirror mazes to be adopted by carnivals and amusement parks in the future. Also, as they traveled, the mirror maze concept traveled with them around the world. In the 19th century, there were only two permanent mirror mazes in the world. One of them was in the Czech Republic and another one in Switzerland. By the 20th century, USA takes the lead and opens eight new Mirror Mazes all around the states. From 1991 onwards there have been 37 new mirror mazes opening all around the world. They are opening everywhere in the US, Europe, Japan, India, Canada, Singapore, China, and now in Iraq.

Mirrors mazes attract people from all different backgrounds and ages. They can have different themes and styles. Some of them represent traditional aspects of the country, and some others provide psychological or adventurous experiences. However, they all share the same excitement and fun that attracts the public and makes them into great attraction sites.