Antique Vibrator Museum

What you need to know

The Antique Vibrator Museum is housed inside the Good Vibrations shop on Polk Street and showcases historical vibrators and intimate devices dating back to the Victorian era. The collection traces the surprisingly complicated history of these devices, from their origins as “medical instruments” through their evolution into the products on the shelves today. Admission is free.

What you’ll see

The museum displays a curated collection of antique devices with informational plaques explaining the history, context, and technology of each piece. It’s educational, well-presented, and fascinating regardless of your comfort level with the subject matter. The items on display are genuinely old, genuinely interesting, and tell a story about how society has approached intimacy and technology over the last 150 years.

Guided tours

On the third Sunday of each month, Dr. Carol Queen (a sextologist affiliated with the shop) leads free guided tours of the collection. Tours require 72 hours advance notice to reserve. The guided experience adds context and stories that the plaques alone don’t cover.

Getting there

The museum is at 1620 Polk Street. The 19 Polk bus runs right along Polk Street. The museum is inside the Good Vibrations retail store, so walk in and look for the museum displays.