by Ask anyone in the world to name a museum in New York City, and they’ll likely come up with all the usual suspects: the Met; Museum of Modern Art; the Guggenheim. New York is home to some of the world’s most famous museums, full of amazing art and one-of-a-kind artefacts – and with ever-changing exhibitions, they’re great to return to again and again.
But some of the city’s most interesting treasures are not displayed at the most famous or most talked about institutions; they are located in extraordinary museums on quiet side streets, filled with the kind of strange and wonderful curios that make this place indecipherable as unique as it is eccentric.
From a curiosity cabinet in an old elevator shaft to a sex museum with an adult fairground, here are 10 of the most unusual museums to explore for a big dose of authentic NYC.
Comfort of the City
Located on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it would be easy to pass the City Reliquary on your way to a trendy bar or restaurant and hardly even know it was there. But you shouldn’t. This small museum / civic organization displays unique artifacts from all over NYC life – everything from pennies and spoons from the 1964 World’s Fair (held in Queens) to old Brooklyn Seltzer bottles can be seen in the small space. The Reliquary also hosts rotating exhibitions from local collectors and community events such as lectures and burlesque shows.
Admission $10/£8
Museum
Founded by Alex Kalman and filmmakers the Safdie brothers – of Uncut gems fame – the Museum is one of the smallest in the world: an excellent 60 square feet, housed within an old elevator shaft. The Mmuseumm curates ephemera that focus on modern life, and manages to pack a surprising number of objects into such a small space, including a taxonomy of cornflakes and air bottles. It’s only open on weekends, but if you can’t make it there, there’s a peephole that lets you see inside 24/7.
Free admission
The Museum of Sex
The name might prompt a few giggles, but the Museum of Sexuality is about much more than the shock factor. His permanent and rotating exhibitions – like the popular “Porno Chic to Sex Positivity” – show the impact sex has had on history and society. But there’s plenty of fun to be had too – the museum’s Super Funland exhibition is set up like an erotic carnival, where guests can tell their fortunes (in titillating style, naturally) and jump around in a bouncy castle full of inflatable breasts – and really, where else can you do that?
Admission $36/£28
National Museum of Mathematics
Can a museum make maths fun? Well, this one manages. Located above Madison Square Park, the exhibits and interactive activities at the National Museum of Mathematics show how the principles of mathematics underlie so much that surrounds us in our daily lives. Guests can create soundscapes, interact with robots and shoot basketballs, among other things – it’s great for kids, and might even help convince the less keen mathematicians among them that it’s possible numbers are fun after all.
Admission $25/£20
Museum of Regenerated Urban Space
Probably the only museum housed in an old squat house, MoRUS documents and commemorates the efforts of Lower East Side activists who, since the 1970s, have worked to turn vacant lots and abandoned buildings in the area into spaces including gardens and community centres. The museum also hosts a Radical History Walking Tour around the neighborhood on weekends, with a selection of magazines and books for sale.
Free admission, suggested donation $5/£4
New York City Fire Museum
A museum for anyone who dreamed of being a fireman when they grew up. Housed in a restored firehouse from the turn of the 20th century, the NYCFM takes you on a walk through the history of NYC firefighting, with vintage fire apparatus on display, including a 1901 horse-drawn steam engine and a 1921 gas-powered pumper. , as well as tools. and uniforms.
Admission $15/£12
New York Transit Museum
Step into this decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn, and discover a beautiful monument to New York’s famous subway history. Exhibits explain how the subways were built (although claustrophobics may want to skip this part) and follow the evolution of fare collection, but the real talk comes on the lower level, where some vintage train cars, complete with period-appropriate advertisements and maps, make for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity.
Admission $10/£8
Coney Island Museum
It’s hard to think of a more exciting place than Coney Island, NYC’s stretch of amusement park and beach—and the Coney Island Museum helps bring its history to life through exhibits featuring old signs, postcards and shooting gallery targets from its days as a much-loved destination. on him. vacation spot. The museum is located on the first floor of a building on Surf Avenue, directly above the Freak Bar, which offers vintage arcade games, pop-up exhibits and, of course, good beer.
Admission $5/£4
Poster House
Whether plastered on teenage bedroom walls or high street billboards, posters have long been one of the best – most understated and nostalgic – in history. The exhibits of this museum look at them both as historical documents and as means of communication, whether targeting the film industry, art deco advertisements, or as a warning about the impending environmental crisis in recent years. There are also virtual lectures and children’s programs, so it’s worth checking the website to see what’s on during your visit.
Admission $12/£9; free admission on Friday
Skyscraper Museum
Empire State Building. Chrysler Building. The World Trade Center. New York is closely associated with skyscrapers, and the Skyscraper Museum is a glass and steel love letter to them all – full of fascinating insights into its history, the evolution of the city’s skyline, plus models, photos and timelines.
Free admission
Fundamentals
TAP, JetBlue and Icelandair fly from London to New York for £347 return.
Bryant Park Hotel (001 212-869-0100) has queen rooms from £233 per night. Doubles from £195 per night at Moxy NYC East Village (001 212-288-6699). Mint House at 70 Pine (001 855-972-9090) has queen rooms from £183 a night.
