Children's Museums
American Museum of Natural History
📍 200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024🕐 Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–5:30 PM |
About American Museum of Natural History
Historic museum of natural wonders. From dinosaurs to outer space & everything in between, this huge museum showcases natural wonders. Houses over 34 million specimens and artifacts, making it one of the world's largest natural history collections. Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 24,536 visitors.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Natural History Museum
- Best For
- All ages
- Highlights
- Dinosaur fossils, 94-foot blue whale, Butterfly Vivarium, Hayden Planetarium, Human Origins hall
- Size
- 45 permanent exhibition halls across 5 floors, 34 million specimens and artifacts
- Location
- Manhattan's Upper West Side, accessible by subway
💡 Did You Know?
- Houses over 34 million specimens and artifacts, making it one of the world's largest natural history collections
- The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life features a 94-foot-long blue whale model suspended from the ceiling, representing the largest animal to ever live
- Originally housed in the Central Park Arsenal before moving to Manhattan Square in 1877, with the first building opened by President Rutherford B. Hayes
- Between 1880 and 1930, the museum sponsored legendary expeditions including Roy Chapman Andrews' discovery of the first dinosaur eggs in the Gobi Desert
- Spans four city blocks on Manhattan's Upper West Side with 45 permanent exhibition halls across 5 floors
💬 What Visitors Say
- Always purchase tickets online in advance to avoid long lines, especially on weekends. The museum is massive with 5 floors of exhibits, and crowds can form quickly at the ticket counter.
- Plan for a full day visit—this museum is significantly larger than most visitors expect. Budget at least 6-8 hours to meaningfully explore the highlights across all floors.
- The Butterfly Vivarium is worth the extra cost. Visitors consistently praise the interactive experience of having live butterflies land on them in an enclosed space—a unique hands-on exhibit not found in typical museums.
- NY residents benefit from a pay-what-you-wish admission model, making it practically free. Non-residents should prioritize must-see exhibits like the Fossil Halls (122-foot Titanosaur, T-rex), Ocean Life Hall (94-foot blue whale), and Hayden Planetarium to maximize value.
- The museum is easily accessible via subway on Manhattan's Upper West Side, eliminating parking concerns. This makes it ideal for families with young children who may find long car rides challenging.
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