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All the United States Rhode Island Bristol Musée Patamécanique

Musée Patamécanique

The exact whereabouts of this surreal cabinet of curiosities are rarely the same place twice.

Bristol, Rhode Island

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Charles Fort
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Interior exhibitions at Musée Patamécanique,   chrl988 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This tiny, hidden museum, originally founded in 2006, presents itself as a hybrid between an Automaton Theater and a Cabinet of Curiosities. Tours of the collection are arranged by appointment only—but the exact whereabouts of the museum? That remains a mystery.

Located in the Historical District of Bristol, Rhode Island, Musée Patamécanique gives “tours” that encompass both outdoor and indoor environments within a six-block area of downtown Bristol. Each tour begins at sunset as a guide greets visitors at a pre-arranged time and location in town. This could be anywhere from one of Bristol’s numerous public parks, to an area along the waterfront, a coffee shop, a restaurant, it always changes.

After introducing himself and welcoming his guests, the "guide" equips his visitors with a set of wireless headphones and a map. He then presses the play button on a wireless transmitter worn by one of the guests. He then departs, leaving his visitors in a state of bewilderment.

This audio the guests are left listening to is actually a tour that leads them to the "secret" location of the indoor exhibition.  

Much of the material in Musée Patamécanique has clear ties to Dada and Theater of the Absurd and includes artistic, pseudoscientific, pre-cinematic and unclassified exhibits. Examples of indoor exhibits include a troop of singing animatronic Chipmunks, a Time Machine which the museum claims to be the world’s largest automated Phenakistascope (an early animation machine), an olfactory clock, a chandelier of singing animatronic nightingales, an "Undigestulator" (a device that purportedly reconstitutes digested foods), The Earolin (a 24-inch tall holographic ear that plays the violin), and a machine for capturing the dreams of bumble bees.

Related Tags

Museums And Collections Museums Art Wunderkammers

Know Before You Go

The museum is open from May to October. Tours are given by appointment. It is about 25 minutes from Providence and 90 minutes from Boston.

 

Community Contributors

Added By

chrl988

Edited By

Rachel, John ODuill, EricGrundhauser

  • Rachel
  • John ODuill
  • EricGrundhauser

Published

August 4, 2014

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Sources
  • https://www.museepata.org/tours
  • http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/08/12/next_stop_wonderland/?page=full
  • http://www.bigredandshiny.com/cgi-bin/BRS.cgi?section=review&issue=52&article=MUSEE_PATAMECANIQUE_1117915
  • https://vimeo.com/user28060739
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Patam%C3%A9canique
Musée Patamécanique
Bristol, Rhode Island, 02809
United States
41.67711, -71.266202
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Photo of Rhode Island

Rhode Island

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Nearby Places

Green Animals Topiary Garden

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

miles away

Rocky Point Amusement Park

Warwick, Rhode Island

miles away

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Fall River, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rhode Island

Rhode Island

United States

Places 75
Stories 3

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