3 Underrated Museums in New York City
When most people think of New York City museums as boring, the three biggies immediately come to mind: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the MoMA. Don’t get me wrong; those museums are world-famous for a good reason and are all more than worthy of your time! But there is a helluva lot more to New York City museum scene than just those that are widely advertised. So here’s a list of 3 highly under-appreciated museums in the New York City area that will make you regret ever stereotyping a museum as “boring.”
Address: 421 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden may just be New York City’s best-kept secret. It hardly resembles your typical museum, and that’s the magic of it, really. To my fellow native New Yorkers out there, I can personally guarantee that you have walked past it unawares, perhaps assuming it was a private home and therefore off limits. Inside and out, the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden looks like a house right out of the freaking 19th century. And that’s because it is! The place hosts regular events and even runs a summer camp that teaches children about 19th-century life. Take a trip back in time and discover what one of the eight oldest remaining buildings in Manhattan has to offer. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for seniors and students with ID. Children under 12 are admitted for free, provided an adult accompanies them.
As of October, 2022, the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden has closed its doors. But they look forward to welcoming back visitors when they reopen.
36-01 35th Avenue (at 37th Street), Astoria, NY 11106
If you’re a cinephile like I am, you’ll get a real kick out of the Museum of the Moving Image. It is not only devoted to the moving image in all its numerous forms, but it presents them in fun, interactive ways. Children and adults alike can attend workshops, learn animation, and even make their own video flipbooks. Both classic and contemporary films from many different countries are screened frequently. The museum is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm ET on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 am - 8:00 pm ET on Fridays (with free admission from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET!), and 11:30 am - 7:30 pm ET on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens or students with ID, and $6 for children ages 3 - 12 (Children under three are admitted free).
233 5th Avenue (27th Street), New York, NY 10016
You may have heard of the Museum of Sex and giggled at the title, waving it off as nothing but another one of New York City’s many gimmicks. I mean, the gift shop alone sells blush-inducing products ranging from Penis Pasta to 24-karat-gold vibrators. However, if you can put aside your skepticism (As a New Yorker, this is nearly impossible, but bear with me!) and leave the kiddies at home, your experience at the Museum of Sex will be extraordinarily memorable. Learn about the history of pornography, and take a gander at vintage sex toys and erotic costumes dating back to the 19th century. The museum is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm ET and Friday to Saturday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm ET. Admission is $17.50 for adults only (duh) and $15.25 for students with ID and seniors.
This article was previously published on Apartments.com on July 8th, 2014.
