The New York City Traveler

MoSex: New York City’s Museum of Sex

by Heather on February 11th, 2008

Though it sounds like a place for cheap thrills, don’t let the name deceive you— The Museum of Sex (MoSex) is more museum than sex.

This Manhattan institution is where you will find historical artifacts and displays on prostitution, burlesque, obscenity and fetishism that were once too controversial to be displayed in their own day. The museum also explores several subcultures while focusing on the history, evolution, and the cultural significance of human sexuality.

Current exhibitions include:

• Sex in Design/Design in Sex From the blatant to the subtly sensual, sex is in most of the design that is presented to the consumer. See how attitudes have shifted from the post-World War era to contemporary times. (through April 27, 2008)
• Action: Sex and the Moving Image This exhibit traces the way sex and sexual imagery have impacted film, television, advertising and more contemporary outlets like the Internet while simultaneously creating the multi- billion dollar porn industry and influencing popular art such as film, social standards, morals and behaviors. (Ongoing)
• Spotlight The first exhibition featuring a sampling of items drawn from the over nine thousand objects that comprise the permanent collection of the MoSex. The vast majority of items reflect America’s changing attitudes about sex and sexuality over the last 250 years. (Ongoing)

The idea of a sex museum in the United States may be new and perhaps bit risqué, but New York City is a perfect, progressive location for such a museum. While it isn’t surprising that most major cities in Europe, from Barcelona to Paris, have museums dedicated to erotic art collections, it is interesting that several Asian countries also have sex museums. Outside of Shanghai is the China Sex Museum, dedicated to the 6000 years of sex and Chinese culture, and India’s first sex museum which opened in Mumbai in 2002.

Lending to its credibility, MoSex has partnered with NYU’s Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality on past exhibits. All exhibits are presented in an educational format but, due to the nature of the subject, the museum is recommended for mature audiences only.

No trip to the New York City’s Museum of Sex is complete without stopping by the museum store where you can find an eclectic assortment of publications, home accents, clothing, and toys that are… ummm… not intended for children.

Location: 233 Fifth Avenue (map) 212-689-6337

Subway: N, R to 28th Street (Broadway); 6 to 28th Street (Park Avenue)

Hours: Sun-Fri 11am-6:30pm (last ticket sold at 5:45pm); Sat 11am–8pm (last ticket sold at 7:15pm)

Cost: Adults $14.50 +tax; students and seniors $13.50 +tax. Click here for a $3 off admission coupon.

Photo credit: personal collection, Wikimedia

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POSTED IN: Attractions, Gramercy/Flatiron, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, Museums