10. Ansonia Hotel Bath Towel

A bath towel from the Continental Baths, a notorious gay bathhouse underneath the Ansonia Hotel, is one of many artifacts that speak to the nightlife art scene, and gay culture that existed in New York City in the era before AIDS – showing that despite difficult economic times, the city’s creative spirit was abounding. Another artifact here is a Studio 54 guest list, which includes names like Ringo Starr.