York Castle Museum

It was a time when anything seemed possible, when youth culture became mainstream, and when Britain ruled the world in fashion, music and football.

 

The Sixties was the decade when the country finally moved out of the shadow of post-war austerity and embraced new developments in science, technology and media.

 

Political change affected personal lives, with the launch of the contraceptive pill and new laws on homosexuality and abortion; and ordinary people affected politics, through mass protest and alternative lifestyles.

 

People had more money to spend on luxuries and consumer goods like household appliances and fashion became much more affordable through mass production.

 

Television brought events from across the world into people’s living rooms -  the World Cup, the moon landings, the Vietnam war, the assassination of President Kennedy.

 

York Castle Museum

 

The Sixties is a new gallery opening in March 2008 which explores this exciting decade through colourful design, music, photography and an array of contemporary objects from our collections.

 

These range from a Lambretta scooter, Mary Quant fashion and Beatles singles, to everyday household packaging, toys and electrical appliances.

 

Listen to music in our jukebox, climb into a Mercury module or pose with the World Cup behind our Bobby Moore cut-out!

 

The Sixties website

 

Explore our website for more about visiting the exhibition or browse through our 60s memories – you can even add your own.

 

Let us know what you thought of your visit by sending in your photos and comments.

 

Or see how you score in our 60s quiz….

 

Links

Visit York Castle Museum's website for more images of exhibits.

Or browse through more 60s memories at BBC North Yorkshire's website.