American Museum of Natural History

Activity Overview

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. 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.

Things to Do

Self Guided Tours - Download a paper map (suggested) or download the Explorer iPhone app and take some great self-guided tours of the museum. Popular tours include: Whales Tour | Theodore Roosevelt Tour | Dino Tour | Highlights Tour | Night At The Museum Tour | Earth and Space Tour

Touchable Exhibits - Several of the Museum's permanent halls feature touchable exhibits. The Discovery Room on the first floor has touchable exhibits specially geared toward children. The Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth features many touchable rock specimens. Special exhibitions often have touch stations as well.

Hayden Planetarium Space Shows - The Space Show in the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space uses state-of-the art technology to communicate cutting-edge science. A digital video system projects across the theater's 67-foot-wide hemispheric dome, and every seat has an amazing view.

Dinosaur Bones Exhibit - head up to the 4th floor to view the enormity of the dinosaurs that roamed the earth before us. Don't miss Tyrannosaurus Rex, Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs.

The enormous Blue Whale at the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life...this 94-foot fiberglass mammal, suspended in air, reminds us of just how big the living creatures around us are.

American Museum of Natural History Insider Tips

• Interactive Floor Plan or (Download a map)- This place is enormous. Get a map as soon as you get there - your map is your friend! A little bit of planning will go a long way. Use a map to get a sense of where things are before you go or as you make your way around the museum.
• Start at the top of the museum (4th Floor) and work you way down. Dinosaurs are always a big hit.
• Plan to spend the better part of a day here. There is a lot to see & do. You can break up the day a bit and take a break across the street in Central Park for lunch. Museum closes at 6pm.
• The Museum is located at 79th Street and Central Park West and is easily reached by public transportation. The main entrance to the Rose Center for Earth and Space is located at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.