As a kid, I was always fascinated by the paranormal. Ouija boards intrigued me, and my friends and I always fiddled with the idea of using one, but we never quite got around to it.
Today, I still have friends who believe and sometimes attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead, and are fully convinced that the strange things that happen to them like seeing ghosts or falling into a trance are completely normal and even expected.
While I’m too scared myself to use a ouija board, I always wondered how they were invented.
Luckily, the Morbid Anatomy Museum answered my question! Watch this clip on the fascinating history of planchettes, devices with two small wheels and a pencil, which were used to communicate with the dead way, way back in the day.
Planchettes are part of what led to the modern-day ouija board!
The Morbid Anatomy Museum also features the biggest private collection of planchettes and showcases other antique devices, like Robert Hare’s “spiritoscope” and the spirit trumpet. Spooky!
But it’s important to realize that these devices weren’t used for fun and games, but for important reasons that had a significant impact on American culture. The paranormal is everywhere: Turn the corner, and you’ll find a psychic’s shop!
Please SHARE if the paranormal just got interesting!
