We know history can be fun. But exactly how much fun can we have with a field normed as boring? The answer is embodied within the Night at the Museum film series, which was partially shot at the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Much like the film series, the museum that sits at the heart of Manhattan is wildly popular and iconic. American Museum of Natural History lets you explore nature and science from its unique perspective with its wide-ranging programs. The Big Apple has enough tricks up its sleeve to keep you hooked for ages and then some with the American Museum of Natural History definitely being one of them.
American Museum of Natural History, New York
In 1869, Albert Smith Bickmore put forward a proposal to establish a natural history museum in New York. The proposal managed to earn the support of William E. Dodge, Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., Joseph Choate, and J. Pierpont Morgan. On April 6, the American Museum of Natural History was founded with John David Wolfe as the President. Since then, the museum has gone from strength to strength in chronicling mankind. American Museum of Natural History New York aims to keep looking for ways to explore, understand, and propagate the progress of human culture.
There are more than 10 separate exhibitions going on at the American Museum of Natural History New York at any given point in time. These exhibitions may replicate historical events, demonstrate scientific revelations, or plainly invite visitors to marvel at archaeological findings. The guided tours within the museum are especially enlightening. Presently, the use of advanced multimedia and robotics has added an element of thrill to the American Museum of Natural History experience. You may choose to dive underwater or foray into the nothingness of space to discover unimaginable facts about the world we think is ours. Some programs even let you investigate the insides of the human body like never before. At the American Museum of Natural History New York, possibilities are infinite, and the only constant is absolute wonder.
Why Visit The American Museum of Natural History?
- American Museum of Natural History New York is one of the largest museums in the world. American history best represented in this museum with recreated sets, original as well as replica pieces of prominent historical figures and structures.
- With the incorporation of multimedia technologies, you can now experience the American Museum of Natural History’s unparalleled view the world in hyperreal 3D.
- Utilizing the current advancement in robotics, American Museum of Natural History New York aims to take you beyond your regular terrestrial habitat. You can encounter the magnanimous world that exists underwater and survey the flora and fauna right before your eyes.
- The American Museum of Natural History, in association with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, will attempt to shed light on the 95% of our universe that still remains out of human reach. You will get to know about dark matter and dark energy which is still beyond absolute comprehension.
- A museum is not complete without an extensive collection of fossils. American Museum of Natural History New York takes great care to satisfy the millions of visitors who come here to see excavated fossils of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Some of the preserved fossils even come with skin remains that were discovered with it.
Avoid crowds at the American Museum of Natural History
- Get online tickets : It would be an absolute no-brainer for you to get the American Museum of Natural History tickets online. Apart from avoiding the queue, you may also get lucky with exclusive online discounts.
- Use the New York Pass : If you are going to be in New York City for more than a day, get the New York Pass which includes the entry for the American Museum of Natural History New York. The pass can also be used to avail hop on hop off bus tours, and fast-track entry at certain locations.
- Arrive Early : When it comes to tourists in New York City, most people prefer late nights over early mornings. Therefore, the most effective trick to avoid the crowd at the American Museum of Natural History would be to arrive early.
Permanent Exhibitions at the American Museum of Natural History
Biodiversity and Environmental Halls
The Biodiversity and Environmental Halls at the American Museum of Natural History are one of the most popular attractions among tourists. The uniqueness lies in the fact that these halls don’t shy away from showing the agents that are endangering our environment while keeping everything simplistic and easy on the eyes.
Birds and Reptiles and Amphibian Halls
This area is divided into four halls. The Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians displays an astonishing variety of the said class of animals. Hall of Birds of the World acquaints you to the species of birds spread all over the world, whereas Hall of New York City Birds explores the birds that are seen in the Big Apple round the year. The Leonard C. Sanford Hall of North American Birds depicts birds that have North America as their native habitat.
Earth and Planetary Sciences Halls
This is another significant area of the American Museum of Natural History. It is divided into three halls. Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites specializes in the study of meteorite segments from different parts of our universe. Guggenheim Hall of Minerals displays hundreds of mineral samples collected from around the planet. Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems is known for its vast collection of precious stones.
Fossil Halls
Possibly the most popular attraction, the fossil halls occupy a large section of the American Museum of Natural History. Apart from displaying fossils of prehistoric creatures, this hall also deals with advanced topics, like vertebrate origins, mammalian lineage, and evolutionary science in detail.
Human Origins and Cultural Halls
This hall has eight different sections that deal with the origins and development of the human race during the course of history. The exhibitions are mainly focused on imparting the knowledge that has been gained about human civilization in particular demographic locations. It is quite interesting to observe exactly how the same species have evolved to be so different over the years.
Mammal Halls
This exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History affords you an in-depth look into the world of mammals. There are multiple subsections of the hall that concentrate on mammals from different parts of the planet. In addition, there is a section dedicated to primates, which connects their origin with human evolution.
Rose Center for Earth and Space
This hall brings to life the ever familiar yet strangely evasive universe of ours. Comprising of the immense Hayden Big Bang Theatre, this exhibition aims at chronicling the 13 billion-year-old history of the cosmos. Additionally, the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth deals with the subject of the evolution of planet Earth.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall
The American Museum of Natural History dedicates this hall to the 33rd Governor of New York State and the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The hall explores the life of Theodore Roosevelt in various phases leading up to his tenure at the White House. Apart from that, the Roman architecture of the structure is also one to behold.
Discovery Room
Although the American Museum of Natural History mainly deals with advanced subjects, it takes special care to retain the element of wonder and discovery. This hall is specifically created for little explorers between the ages of 5 and 11 years. All the major field of science is covered in this exhibition and is neatly packed with bite-sized knowledge.
The Titanosaur
One of the largest and newest exhibits on display at the American Museum of Natural History is The Titanosaur. This 122-foot long behemoth garners a lot of attention from experts given its relatively recent discovery. The dinosaur is thought to be a herbivore that walked the Earth around 100 to 95 million years ago.
Special Exhibitions at the American Museum of Natural History
Hayden Planetarium Space Show
Hayden Planetarium Space Theatre is a 429-seater hall that is the host of this hugely popular virtual reality space show. Known for its hyperrealism, the shows hosted here are accompanied with in-depth visualization and expert insights. The current show at the Hayden Planetarium Space Theatre is Dark Universe hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Date: Up to July 27, 2027
Our Senses: An Immersive Experience
Most humans depend on their senses to navigate through their day to day lives. This special exhibition takes you on a ride to know your senses better. It will help you understand that not only does nature create our perception, but the opposite is also true. Catch this show while it’s still on.
Date: Up to January 2, 2019
Unseen Oceans
We are far from discovering our own planet to the fullest. And the part that still remains intriguing and obscure to humans is the deep sea. This exhibition uses the advancement in robotics to take you to the world ruled by giant squids and octopuses.
Date: Up to August 18, 2019
Inside You
We are taught about the basic functions of our bodies in school, but that merely scratches the surface. There are a lot of things about the human body that is not common knowledge. This exhibition will give you a lesson introspection, as you know yourself like never before.
Date: Up to June 16, 2019
American Museum of Natural History - Practical Information
American Museum of Natural History Hours
10:00 AM to 5:45 PM
Last entry at 5:00 PM
Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Getting To the American Museum of Natural History Hours
- By Subway: Take the B or C train to 81st Street. You may enter the American Museum of Natural History directly from the 81st Street station.
- By Bus: Take any bus to Columbus Avenue, including M79, M7, M10, M11, M86, and M104.
- By Car: Arrive at 56 West 81st Street via Central Park West.
Parking: Parking is available within the museum with hourly rates.
Directions to the American Museum of Natural History New York
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Quick Tips for Visiting the American Museum of Natural History
- Take a little time to read the floor maps of the museum and strategize your visit beforehand to make optimum utilization of time.
- There are three restaurants and cafes within the museum, so you do not have to leave the premises to grab a bite.
- All exhibitions, theatres, and food service areas are accessible by wheelchair.
- All restrooms except for one each on the first, second, and third floor are accessible by wheelchair.
- You may check your coats, jackets, umbrellas at the coat check within the museum. Luggage, musical instruments, computers, wallets, and other items of high value are not accepted at the coat check.
- Photography for personal use is permitted within the museum unless otherwise stated.
- Opt for the guided tours for the guided tours for the advanced subject halls. Guided tours are free with the admission pass.
NYC Museums Guide
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FAQs: American Museum of Natural History
We recommend a minimum of two and a half hours to experience the Museum. Give yourself an extra hour if you are seeing one of our shows or special exhibitions.
The American Museum of Natural History is the largest natural history museum in the world with a mission commensurately monumental in scope. The entire museum spans 4 city blocks and consists of some 25 interconnected buildings.
The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world's cultures.
The museum collections contain over 34 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artifacts, as well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, of which only a small fraction can be displayed at any given time.
This museum is incredible. Even the cafeteria and gift shop are worth your notice. There are approximately 32 million artifacts inside, spread across four city blocks, 25 buildings and through 45 exhibition halls, so don't even plan on seeing everything in one day.
