Visiting the American Museum of Natural History
A massive and fascinating museum
Located in the upscale Upper West Side neighborhood, directly across from Central Park in Manhattan, the American Museum of Natural History stands as one of the largest museums in New York and a premier institution of its kind globally. Founded in 1869 by zoology professor Albert Bickmore, this collection is packed with treasures like massive dinosaur skeletons, a 94-foot blue whale suspended in midair, the world's largest sapphire, and a top-tier planetarium. Its rugged, explorer-style atmosphere is a hit for both kids and adults.
Tips for planning your visit
Before you head over, download the floor plan from the website and the museum's free app: Explorer. The building spans four floors. The lower level handles arrivals and amenities, including the food court, restrooms, an amphitheater, and the planetarium gift shop. The 1st floor is organized into three main themes: earth and space, the environment, and North American mammals. The 2nd floor focuses on human culture with exhibits covering Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America, alongside displays of African and Asian mammals. Between December and May, do not miss the 500 species of butterflies in the conservatory. The 3rd floor houses the famous whale, and the 4th floor features the impressive Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Extend the adventure
For those looking to extend the experience, you can actually sleep on cots set up in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life. The program includes snacks and breakfast, plus musical entertainment. For this type of overnight stay, expect to pay 145 USD per person for a family night and 350 USD per person for an adult-only night.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
I didn't buy a full price ticket online, I just showed up in the morning, and I had to wait a good 2 hours before reaching the ticket window, partly in the rain... that never starts off very well! So I paid "what I felt like" once I got there. The museum itself was nice, even if it seemed like it could use a little refresh in some rooms. The problem: it was packed!!! Worse than the MOMA or the MET... so, that also made the visit less pleasant. I really liked the hall of minerals and gems (less crowded, by the way), the dinosaur hall (where did the T-Rex go???), but I didn't stick around in the end because of the crowd.