Visiting the American Museum of Natural History
A massive and fascinating museum
Set in the upscale neighborhood of Upper West Side, right across from Central Park in New York, the American Museum of Natural History, American Museum of Natural History, stands as one of the largest museums in New York and one of the premier institutions of its kind globally. Founded in 1869 by zoology professor Albert Bickmore, it holds treasures such as towering dinosaur skeletons, a 30-meter blue whale suspended from the ceiling, the world's largest sapphire, and a state-of-the-art planetarium. Its classic adventure movie atmosphere appeals equally to kids and adults!
Tips for planning your visit
Before heading over, download the map from the website along with the museum's free app: Explorer. The building spans 4 floors. The lower level houses entrances and amenities, including a food court and restrooms, alongside the amphitheater and planetarium gift shop. The 1st floor centers around 3 themes: Earth and space, the environment, and North American mammals. The 2nd floor turns to humanity and culture across 4 geographic zones: Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. Animals take center stage here too with African and Asian mammal exhibits. From December to May, do not miss the stunning butterfly conservatory featuring 500 species. The 3rd floor holds the famous whale, and the 4th floor showcases the impressive Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Extend the adventure
For visitors wanting to extend the experience, you can actually sleep on camp beds set up inside the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life. The package includes evening snacks and breakfast, plus musical entertainment. For this type of overnight stay, expect to pay $145 per person for a family night and $350 per person for an adults-only night.
Opening hours
| Monday | 10:00-17:45 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00-17:45 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-17:45 |
| Thursday | 10:00-17:45 |
| Friday | 10:00-17:45 |
| Saturday | 10:00-17:45 |
| Sunday | 10:00-17:45 |
*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.