What to expect at Poster House?

Located in Chelsea, Manhattan, Poster House is the first and only poster museum in the United States that explores the history and impact posters have had within media, society, and cultural influence throughout time. The museum is not nearly as exhausting and time-consuming as other museums around NYC. On this visit, there were a total of three exhibits between the two floors, which made it manageable to not only see everything but really take a look at every piece without feeling overwhelmed. 

Make sure to check out Poster House’s calendar to see what exhibits are running as they rotate every few months. Poster House also has a growing permanent collection of posters surrounding the first floor, a cafe to sit back and relax, a museum shop, and a photo booth hidden next to the entrance of the museum to make your very own poster! 

I spent about an hour going through the three different exhibits and browsing the gift shop, however, if you’re one to read every sign in museums, you’ll likely see yourself spending about an hour and a half here. There are also elevators at this museum to get you between the two floors as well as stairs. The staff is incredibly welcoming and super nice as well as informative about all of the exhibitions on display. 

Exhibitions I saw during my visit: 

Made in Japan: 20th-Century Poster Art

On display Mar 2–Sep 10, 2023

Showcased in the main room, on the first floor, this exhibit focused on Japan’s transformation in art throughout its cultural and political shifts from the First World War to the present day.  It was fascinating seeing the changes in messaging and décor for their posters based on what was happening throughout Japan, for example, the vast difference between WW1 and WW2 imagery, bringing in tourism to Japan to help revamp their image post-war, Japan’s influence within modern media, and more. 

Black Power to Black People: Branding the Black Panther Party

On display Mar 2–Sep 10, 2023

A one-room exploration into the history of how the Black Panther Party was formed and how it shaped America. Pretty interesting to see how the logo for the Blank Panther Party came about, Newspapers and magazines were created to help spread their messaging, to learn the rules they created to minimize the risk of their landlords evicting them, and how its influence can still be seen in today’s #BlackLivesMatter movement. 

With My Little Eye: Warnings For The Homefront

On display Oct 20, 2022–Apr 16, 2023

A small, but very interesting exhibit showcasing propaganda posters from the First World War regarding “spy fever”. Namely to not trust who you’re talking to because anyone could be a potential spy for the enemy. Posters from US allies such as Canada, France, and the UK are showcased all sharing the same messaging, “Loose Talk Can Cost Lives”. 

Let me know if you check out Poster House and what you thought! 

Where is Poster House located? 

Address: 119 W 23rd St. (Between 6th and 7th Avenue)

Hours & Ticket Information

  • Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
  • Thursdays 10am -6pm 
  • Fridays 10am – 9pm (FREE ENTRY every Friday!)
  • Saturday & Sunday 10am – 6pm
  • Adults: $12

What else is there to see after visiting Poster House? 

Chelsea, Manhattan is a great area for walking around with plenty to see and do! Here are some of my recommendations after visiting Poster House: