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Mmuseumm

A quirky, modern natural history museum housed in a former freight elevator, showcasing overlooked vernacular objects that tell powerful human stories.

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Mmuseumm
www.mmuseumm.com, og_image_www.mmuseumm.com

What is Mmuseumm known for?

Mmuseumm is a modern natural history museum that displays contemporary, vernacular objects in a style reminiscent of a historical cabinet of curiosities. It specializes in items that are often overlooked, dismissed, or ignored.

What are the hours?

Public hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Where is it located?

It is located at 4 Cortlandt Alley in New York City, situated in an old freight elevator in an alley in Chinatown/Tribeca, Lower Manhattan.

What kind of things are on display?

The museum features unusual artifacts, such as the shoe thrown at George W. Bush in Baghdad, receipts from the last meals of death row inmates, and objects made by prisoners.

Who founded the museum?

Mmuseumm was founded in 2012 by Alex Kalman and the Safdie brothers, Benny and Josh Safdie.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Mmuseumm is a non-profit public service located in Tribeca, Lower Manhattan, that operates as a modern natural history museum. Founded in 2012 by Alex Kalman and the Safdie brothers, Benny and Josh Safdie, the space is designed as a curated display of contemporary artifacts in a style reminiscent of a historical cabinet of curiosities. It focuses on the 'overlooked, dismissed, or ignored' items of the modern world, exploring the human condition through the exhibition of vernacular objects. The museum's first location, Mmuseumm 1, opened in 2012 inside a former elevator shaft. The current site is an old freight elevator in an alley in Chinatown, which makes the experience easily missable unless you know exactly where to look for it. This tiny space hosts rotating and permanent collections that challenge the traditional museum experience. Past exhibitions have featured a wide array of poignant and sometimes disturbing objects. These include receipts from the last meals of death row inmates, personal items from immigrants left in the Arizona desert, and objects made by prisoners. The museum's approach transforms ordinary items into historical records of the human experience. More unusual objects in the collection have included the shoe thrown at George W. Bush in Baghdad, a hot water coil heater from Kaunas, Lithuania, and a plastic glove from Paradise Valley, Montana. The current exhibition, 'Modern Rubble,' is an international collaboration that examines the violence of war and its human toll through post-conflict rubble.

Visitor tips

  • Visit on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday between 11 AM and 6 PM to ensure the museum is open.
  • Look closely for the entrance in the alley at 4 Cortlandt Alley, as it is easily missable.
  • Allow about 30 minutes for the visit, as the space is extremely small and the objects are detailed.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be exploring the narrow alleyways of Chinatown and Tribeca.

Nearby context

Located in the narrow alleyways of Cortlandt Alley, the museum is tucked away in a Chinatown same-alley experience that blends the industrial history of Tribeca and the cultural vibrancy of Chinatown.

Sources

Evidence and links