Entry No. 20 — the New York City file — filed under: offbeat-museum
The Museum of Interesting Things
Filmmaker and photo restorer Denny Daniel runs this hands-on traveling collection of antique inventions and oddities out of his own apartment, somewhat like a touchable Edison museum. Visitors can actually operate vintage phonographs, early cameras, magic-lantern projectors, and other curious old devices rather than just looking at them. Tours are intimate and guided personally by the collector.
The story
Denny Daniel is a filmmaker and photo restorer who believes history shouldn't be locked behind museum glass. Inside his private apartment on East 8th Street, he operates a hands-on collection filled with early mechanical inventions, antique photography equipment, and obsolete media devices. Instead of staring at a silent showcase, you take a seat in his living room while Daniel hands you century-old hardware to inspect and operate yourself.
The collection traces the mechanical evolution of media and everyday tech—from early magic-lantern projectors and vintage cameras to hand-cranked phonographs and forgotten patent models. Daniel guides each intimate session personally, detailing the backstories behind every gear, lever, and optical trick while letting you physically turn the handles that helped shape modern technology.
What it's like
Visiting means booking a spot ahead of time and ringing an apartment doorbell on East 8th Street rather than walking into a public institution. You'll step into a private Greenwich Village residence stacked with antique gear, where Denny Daniel leads a small, interactive demonstration. Expect to handle fragile mechanical artifacts directly, crank 19th-century audio players, and ask questions in a personal, conversational setting.
The move: Book a private appointment and take turns cranking a hand-powered phonograph and handling century-old gadgets while Denny tells the story behind each one.
📍 Before you go By appointment only; tour is held in the collector's private apartment. Reserve ahead.
- 📍 East Village / Greenwich Village, Manhattan
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 60 East 8th Street, New York, NY (private apartment; by appointment)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Merchant's House Museum — Follow up Denny's tactile lesson in vintage tech with a visit to an untouched 1832 East Village row house that preserves 19th-century domestic life.
- McSorley's Old Ale House — Pair an afternoon of testing 19th-century gadgetry with a mug of ale inside Manhattan's oldest Irish saloon, where historical artifacts cover every inch of the walls.
- Gothic Renaissance — Extend your offbeat Village stroll by ducking into this long-running alternative fashion boutique just a few blocks north near Union Square.
Good to know
How do I visit the Museum of Interesting Things?
Visits are strictly by appointment. You must contact collector Denny Daniel in advance to schedule a private tour inside his apartment.
What will I actually do during the tour?
You'll participate in a hands-on guided session where you get to crank vintage phonographs, handle early cameras, operate magic-lantern projectors, and test historical inventions.
Where is the collection located?
It is housed in a private apartment at 60 East 8th Street, situated right between the East Village and Greenwich Village in Manhattan.
Is this a traditional museum with open public hours?
No. It operates out of a private home and also functions as a traveling exhibition, so there are no drop-in public gallery hours without a scheduled appointment.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: annekadet.substack.com · Atlas Obscura · amny.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-23