Abstract: Implementations of a magnetic building block system are provided. In some implementations, the magnetic building block system comprises a plurality of magnetic building blocks wherein each magnetic building block comprises a plurality of side walls wherein one or more of the side walls include a recess and one or more of the recesses includes a ferromagnetic material. In some implementations, the magnetic building block system further comprises one or more magnets configured to be received by one or more recesses of the magnetic building block. In some implementations, the magnetic building block system further comprises a base having a plurality of recesses wherein one or more of the recesses include a ferromagnetic material. In some implementations, the magnetic building block system further comprises one or more magnets configured to be received by one or more recesses of the base. Methods of using the magnetic building block system also are provided.