Sex Museums in Europe and the United States

Sabrina Ricci
Thanks to the sexual revolution, sex museums, or erotic art museums, have popped up all over Europe and the United States. Here is a list of some of the museums still open today:

Europe

Erotic Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands: Located in the infamous Red Light District, this museum has a shop that sells sex souvenirs and collections of erotic photographs. Admission is five Euros, and it is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. till 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. till 2 a.m.

Museu de l'eròtica, Barcelona, Spain: This museum opened in 1996 and is the first of its kind in Spain. The purpose of the museum is to show "the development of eroticism through the various artistic and cultural facets of the human being: anthropology, archaeology, literature, plastic arts, history, antiques, etc."

Museum Erotica, Copenhagen, Denmark: This museum opened in 1994 and is very popular with women. Inside are erotic photos, films, postcards, and toys, and there is information available about sexual education. Admission is 59 Danish Kroner, and the museum is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. from May through September, and 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. from October through April.

Musée de l'Erotisme, Paris, France: Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. till 2 a.m. This museum is in the Red Light District of Paris, near the Moulin Rouge. It houses erotic art ranging from paintings to sculptures, and there is currently a contortionist exhibit on display until this November.

Sex Machines Museum, Prague, Czech Republic: located in Old Town Square, this museum opened in 2002. Admission is Czk 250 and it is only for adults over 18. The museum contains "an exposition of mechanical erotic appliances, the purpose of which is to bring pleasure and allow extraordinary and unusual positions during intercourse."

United States

Dumas Brothel, Butte, Montana: This former brothel ran from 1890 until 1982 and was America's longest running prostitution house. In 2008, the brothel reopened as a museum, with admission costing $8 per person.

Leather Archives and Museum, Chicago, Illinois: This museum is about the beginnings of leather subculture and BDSM. It is a 10,000 square foot, two-story house that is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Erotic Heritage Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada: Opened in 2008, this museum costs $15 for admission, although students only have to pay $10. The museum is 17,000 square feet and shows the "cast array of socio-cultural perspectives depicting our erotic heritage, including a special emphasis on the unfolding of the American Sexual Revolution of the 20th Century. The Museum seeks to bridge the gap between the pornographic, with that which is aesthetic." Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Museum of Sex, New York, New York: Opened in 2002, the Museum of Sex was built to "preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality. Since it's opening, there have been 16 exhibits and five virtual installations, all accompanied by lectures and special events. Admission is $16, only for those over 18, and the museum is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Resources:

Erotic Museum

Museu de l'eròtica

Museum Erotica

Musée de l'Erotisme

Sex Machines Museum

Dumas Brothel

Leather Archives and Museum

Erotic Hertiage Museum

Museum of Sex

Published by Sabrina Ricci

Sabrina Ricci is a freelance writer and current grad student at New York University. She has worked and written for a variety of publications, including Noozhawk, Santa Barbara Magazine, and Examiner.com. Sh...  View profile

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