Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love

There's no lack of world-class museums in NYC, and the city is even home to plenty of amazing children's museums and cool immersive experiences, but sometimes you just. can't. deal. with. the. crowds. And sometimes, let's face it, you and your hard-to-impress NYC kids might just be in the mood for something a little different or off the beaten path...a little weird, even. After all, that's part of New York City's charm!

For those days, we present our list of weird, wacky, and wonderful under-the-radar museums in NYC that kids love. Read on for 12 picks you're unlikely to find in the tourist guidebooks.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Unusual artifacts all find a home at the City Reliquary.

1. City Reliquary – Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This tiny, two-room museum is a labor of love for owner Dave Herman, whose extensive collection crowds every available space. One room is dedicated to his permanent collection (once housed in his ground-floor apartment window for passersby to peruse), and another to a rotating array of exhibits from other local collectors and those beyond. Oddities like fragments of city landmark buildings, a collection of Statue of Liberty figurines, and other unusual artifacts have all found a home here. An outdoor area offers space for summer movie nights, concerts, and more.

2. Holographic Studios – Midtown East

Located in a former blacksmith's forge is this destination dedicated to all things holographic. Still a working holographic studio, which produces 3D hologram projects for major corporations, Holographic Studios also hosts an on-site gallery the public can visit on weekday afternoons. You'll see plenty of examples of the shop's work (including some available for purchase) and you can even take a tour or class to create your own holographic gifts.

3. Mmuseumm – Chinatown

Natural history that's not so historic is the focus of this quirky spot, located in an elevator shaft on a narrow Chinatown street. Given its limited square footage, the museum closes seasonally to revamp its display and keep it current...and quirky. Past artifacts have included a border wall prototype, a pool float package censored for a conservative Saudi Arabian audience, and a collection of New York City tip jars. It's currently open by appointment only.

4. Museum of Interesting Things – Various Locations

This museum bills itself as a traveling show, "like a circus...just no elephants." Instead, you'll see a collection of, well, interesting things. Most are antiques, which, unlike at your typical museum, just beg to be touched. The thought behind it is that kids, in particular, should be given an opportunity to touch these artifacts and learn about the important inventions that have paved the way for today's technology-driven society. Follow it on Facebook to learn where it's popping up next.

5. Museum of Illusions – Chelsea

This quirky museum has been fooling families since its opening in 2018 with its collection of mind-bending photo-ops and illusions. Kids get a kick out of this spot that's equal parts trippy, mind-bending fun house and educational wonderland. The museum is home to more than 70 exhibits that will trick your senses, force you to question your perceptions, and look at the whole space from a different perspective.

RELATED: 23 Secret Spots NYC Kids Love

The Coney Island Museum is worth a detour from the boardwalk.

6. Coney Island Museum – Coney Island, Brooklyn

From the land of surf and sideshows comes this museum dedicated to the colorful past of America's most storied seaside escape. The not-for-profit museum features old-school memorabilia like fun-house mirrors, century-old postcards, and more artifacts dating back to the original Luna Park.

7. Torah Animal World – Borough Park, Brooklyn

This three-story row house on an unassuming Brooklyn block houses an otherworldly collection of taxidermied specimens; 1,100 to be exact. Rumored to have a Noah's Ark-like collection of every animal listed in the Bible and Talmud, the museum offers tours by appointment in four languages. Guests are invited to get up close and even touch the collection, which was sourced from collectors, museums, and zoos. Some of the most impressive specimens include a 7-foot-tall giraffe bust, a 16-foot-long crocodile corpse, and even an elephant head and four foot stools.

8. Waterfront Museum – Red Hook, Brooklyn

All aboard this unique museum in NYC. It's located in a historic wooden railroad barge, the Lehigh Valley Barge #79, which dates to 1914. The Waterfront Museum hosts a rotating array of installations including works of guest artists and historical artifacts from the museum's collection. It frequently hosts live performances, can be rented for private use, and is open to visitors two days a week.

9. Poster House Museum – Chelsea

Displaying accessible art and design in the form of posters is the mission of this micro museum, which is the first poster museum in the US. It chronicles the impact of posters and their design on history with rotating installations. It's home to plenty of pop-culture pieces, plus a jam-packed event calendar with family-friendly screenings and workshops.

10. Imaginari – Tribeca

Bug lovers get a kick out of this newly-opened museum dedicated to all things creepy, crawly, and even flying. Each room is an ode to insects and the brainchild of a different artist. See larger-than-life beetles, come eye-to-eye with a monarch butterfly, and walk through a field of ladybugs where kids can help decorate the walls with a sheet of ladybug stickers!

11. Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space – East Village

If you've got a budding activist on your hands take note of this people-powered museum that dedicates itself to the untold history of NYC's grassroots activists with installations of photography, videos, artifacts, and more. Volunteer-run, it offers plenty of community-minded programs like green-ups of local gardens, radical history walking tours, and more.

12. The Rally Museum – Soho

From triceratops to Topps baseball cards and original Andy Warhol prints, this unique museum is the brainchild of Rally, the investment firm that makes it possible to purchase micro shares of all of its collectibles. The Rally Museum allows it to showcase some of its treasures, and pedal them to visitors for as little as $10 per share. If you've ever wanted to own a real dinosaur fossil, this spots for you!

Photos courtesy of the museums