Ask anyone in the world to name a museum in New York City, and they'll probably rattle off all the usual suspects: the Met; the Museum of Modern Art; the Guggenheim. New York is home to some of the most famous museums in the world, full of awe-inspiring art and unique artifacts - and with constantly changing exhibitions, they're great to return to again and again.
But some of the city's most fascinating treasures aren't on display in its most famous or high-profile institutions; they're tucked away in unusual museums on quiet side streets, filled with the kind of weird and wonderful curiosities that make this indecipherable place as unique as it is eccentric.
From a cabinet of curiosities in an old elevator shaft to a sex museum with an adult fun fair, here are 10 of the most unusual museums to explore for a big authentic dose of NYC.
The city reliquary
Located on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it would be easy to pass the City Reliquary on the way to a trendy bar or restaurant and barely know it was there. But you shouldn't do that. This small museum/citizen organization showcases unique artifacts from all corners of New York life. Everything from streamers and spoons from the 1964 World's Fair (held in Queens) to old seltzer bottles from Brooklyn are on display in the small space. The Reliquary also hosts rotating exhibitions from local collectors and community events such as lectures and burlesque shows.
Mmuseumm
Founded by Alex Kalman and filmmakers the Safdie brothers Uncut gemstones claim to fame - the Mmuseumm is one of the smallest in the world: a graceful 60 square meters, housed in an old elevator shaft. The Mmuseumm curates ephemera that focus on the modern world, and manages to pack a surprising number of objects into such a small space, including cornflake taxonomy and bottles of air. It's only open on weekends, but if you can't make it then there are peepholes so you can look inside 24/7.
Free entranceThe story continues
Museum of sex
The name may provoke a few giggles, but the Museum of Sex is about so much more than just the shock factor. The permanent and changing exhibitions - such as the popular 'Porno Chic to Sex Positivity' - emphasize 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 have their fortunes told (in titillating style, of course) and jump around in a bouncy castle full of inflatable boobs - and really Where else can you do that?
Entry $36/£28National Museum of Mathematics
Can a museum make math fun? Well, this one succeeds. The exhibits and interactive activities at the National Museum of Mathmatics, housed above Madison Square Park, demonstrate how mathematical principles underlie so much that surrounds us in our daily lives. Guests can create soundscapes, communicate with robots and shoot a basketball, among other things. It's great for kids and can convince even the less enthusiastic mathematicians among them that numbers can still be fun.
Entry $25/£20Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space
Perhaps the only museum housed in a former squat, MoRUS documents and commemorates the efforts of Lower East Side activists who have worked since the 1970s to transform vacant lots and abandoned buildings in the area into spaces including gardens and community centers. The museum also hosts a radical history walk through the neighborhood on weekends and has a selection of zines and books for sale.
Free entry, suggested donation $5/£4New York City Fire Museum
A museum for everyone who dreamed of becoming a firefighter as a child. Housed in a renovated early 20th century firehouse, the NYCFM guides you through the history of firefighting in NYC, featuring vintage fire apparatus including a 1901 horse-drawn steam engine and a 1921 gas-powered pumper truck, as well as tools and uniforms.
Entry $15/£12New York Transit Museum
Visit this decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn and find a beautifully curated monument to the history of New York's famous subway. Exhibits explain how the subways were built (although claustrophobic folks may want to skip this part) and trace the evolution of fare collection, but the real treat comes on the lower level, where several vintage train cars, complete with period-appropriate advertisements and maps , provide a unique photo opportunity.
Coney Island Museum
It's hard to imagine a more unusual place than Coney Island, New York's beach and theme park strip - and the Coney Island Museum helps bring its history to life through exhibits featuring old signs, postcards and shooting galleries from its time as a popular holiday spot. The museum is located on the first floor of a building on Surf Avenue, just above the Freak Bar, which offers vintage arcade games, pop-up exhibits and, of course, good beer.
Poster house
Whether plastered on the walls of teenage bedrooms or billboards on high streets, posters have long been among history's best - most underrated, most nostalgic - chroniclers. They view this museum's exhibitions as both historical documents and communication tools, whether they focus on the film industry, art deco advertisements or warnings about the looming environmental crisis of recent decades. 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 FridayThe Skyscraper Museum
The Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building. The World Trade Center. New York and skyscrapers are inextricably linked, and the Skyscraper Museum - filled with fascinating insights into their history, the evolution of the city's skyline, plus models, photographs and timelines - is a glass-and-steel love letter to them all.
Free entranceEssentials
TAP, JetBlue and Icelandair fly from London to New York from £347 return.
Bryant Park Hotel (001 212-869-0100) has queen rooms from £233 per night. Moxy NYC East Village (001 212-288-6699) has double prices from £195 per night. Mint House at 70 Pine (001 855-972-9090) has queen rooms from £183 per night
