The mystery is in the history

“In a museum, you can use all the stories that are inside all of the objects … it’s such a rich environment to find the right story.”

There is something thrilling about escape games: You’re “locked” in the basement of your recently purchased home with four friends and have to figure out how to escape before the bomb left by the survivalist previous owner explodes. It tests your will, wit, and, in many cases, the strength of your friendships.

For a fee, you can have such an experience at most shopping centers.

The Hyde is teaming with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce‘s NextGens Committee to host an Escape Room experience in historic Hyde House in late October. The challenge at a museum, of course, is that participants can’t touch artwork, furniture, or artifacts — generally a key component in solving the puzzles.

An article Friday on ArtDaily.com interviewed the creator of the world’s first escape room challenges, and hosts of such events since. One woman spoke of the particular challenges museums face in planning the events, but also the ways that having precious works of art with centuries of history can make the game even more exciting.

We can’t wait.

Want to register for the October 25 event? It’s $20 per adult in advance; $30 at the door. Click here.