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American Museum of Natural History
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
Central Park W at 79th StNew York, NY 10024
(212) 769-5100
- Nearest Transit:
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81 St - Museum Of Natural History (A, B, C)
86 St (A, B, C)
79 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
616 reviews for American Museum of Natural History
Review Highlights
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"It goes beyond just the dinosaurs and tribal artifacts." In 133 reviews -
"There is so much to see and explore." In 18 reviews -
"There was a giant replica of the Blue Whale." In 43 reviews
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615 reviews in English
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Review from Elliot T.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is HUGE! So many many many floors, I did not walk to all of them but still had my feet hurting after. There is a planetarium, dinosaurs, volcanoes, an amazon, bugs, lions, tigers, and bears, and an aquarium too. This place has pretty much anything and everything that has been on the discovery channel, national geographies, and animal planet.
The place does get really packed so try to go on a weekday rather than weekend. Only downside was some exhibits cost extra probably because of the high demand.
Enjoy exploring! -
Review from Nat W.
5/23/2012
Who would not want to visit this place after seeing the Ben Stiller movie "Night at the Museum"??
My husband and I were able to get a great discount on all inclusive tickets for military. So make sure to ask for military discount if you are. They cover from wildlife, ocean life, dinosaurs and fossils to a planetarium.
If you wanna just look through, it would probably take you about 2 hours. If you want to look everything in detail, you could spend 4hrs here.
If you don't have anything to do, this is a good place to spend a day for both adults and children. -
Review from Paul A.
Studio City, CA
5/11/2012
A massive, fun museum. I expected it to be large, but it is truly an undertaking to try and see as much as you can while there, but it's a very fun undertaking.
Many of the displays of mammals are simply beautiful, one can tell a lot of work went into every detail. The exhibits on peoples of the world are both informative and well put together.
The thing I was looking forward to most was the dinosaur skeletons, and they didn't disappoint. By far the largest collection of skeletons I've ever seen in one place, and they do a great job with poses and such to really bring home how incredible the creatures were.
The space center is cool, too, with knowledge that is common, but presented in a cool way. I would have been fascinated with it as a child, and they make it easily understandable without pandering or "dumbing down" the information.
In fact, the whole museum would have been amazing to see as a kid, it's unfortunate I didn't make it to New York until I was older. I'm glad I finally got to see it on my most recent trip, however, and may even go again next time to see some of the stuff I missed. Highly recommended for all ages. -
Review from Natalie C.
New York, NY
5/23/2012
Ok, I've been to the Natural History Museum in London and I still think this museum is MUCH better. It might sound biased because I'm from this area, but Im a space and nature lover and I'll admit any museum I really love. Unfortunately, I've never been to the Smithsonian in DC, hopefully soon, so then I have more to compare it to.
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Review from Christina S.
Queens, NY
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Who wouldn't love to learn about the "Big-Bang Theory" or "Creatures of light"? (BTW, "Creatures of Light" will be showing until Jan. 6, 2013).This museum is HUGE! It takes two (all-day) visits to cover all of the exhibits, and shows that are being offered!
I had a class project which included visiting The Hall of Biodiversity, The Ross Hall of Meteorites, The Mistein Hall of Ocean Life, The Rose Center for Earth and Space, The Hall of Human Origins and The Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth. Basically, the whole friggin' museum!
What a learning experience and incredible amount of information! My brain was fried at the end of my first visit. When you have a deep, and I mean REALLY deep longing to know how the universe was formed and how human beings came into existence, go to the American Museum of Natural History.
What made me bounce back, you asked? Well, the Museum shop spans four floors :-). Cute, artsy, fartsy items are available for purchase to include paintings, replica of artifacts, and a decent selection of home decor. Some t-shirts and clothing, along with games, toys and more. The shops feature items inspired by the study of human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.
There is street parking but make sure you go early to get a spot. Ticket agents are constantly on patrol here :-/... don't like these guys!!! -
Review from Rich J.
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another yearly, touristy thing I love to do..go to this huge, sprawling museum for a day ..though admittedly, I wasn't as excited last time, might be wearing thin after being here 15 or so times. Still, the Gems and Precious Stones Room is a favorite of mine, as is standing under the blue whale and stomping up and down to see if it falls on me.
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Review from Ali F.
5/6/2012
I grew up going to this museum on a bunch of class trips. It was so much fun. Of course, as a typical boy in 4th grade, the prehistoric section is easily one of the most entertaining things in the world.
Now, as an adult, I can fully appreciate far more than just dinosaur bones and fossils. I hadn't been here in forever, and finally got to see the main sections of the planetarium, then moved on through to the rest of the museum.
Suggested price on a Saturday, but I was generous enough (at least, I thought so).
If you plan your trip in the right direction, you might be able to breeze forward in time from the beginning of the solar system, to the periods when the T-Rex ruled the earth, to ancient African and Asian cultures.
Everything is so in depth, too. It's hard for me to think of a lot of questions that aren't already answered or at least pondered somewhere in the exhibits.
Another wonderful thing about this museum; some of the less fragile pieces are welcome to touch. Fragments of moon rock and meteorites especially.
Anyways, I'm not sure how to end this review, except maybe with a small bit of advice. Don't bother buying anything from the cafe if you're on a budget. Just eat before or after the museum visit. HOWEVER, by all means, check out their store! There's some great stuff in there. -
Review from Dor Z.
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm almost 24 and I still raced upstairs so I could press my greasy face and sweaty palms against the first glass-contained dinosaur exhibit I could find. This place is so awesome! So fascinating! So educational (but you can skip all the nerdy information if you want - the dinosaur bones are still cool)! Good luck trying to get a photograph with the skeletons, though - this place is so crowded, you'd be hard-pressed to get a shot without some tourist's blurry bald head in the corner.
Don't forget to visit the ocean life downstairs. There is also a haunting display of a whale fighting a giant squid. It was pitch black; it didn't look like they had installed any lights or a glass panel, so you could actually reach into the darkness to touch the models. That shit's serving creepy deep-sea realness, alright! -
Review from Derrick W.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
This museum is massive! Granted that I am almost 26, some of the displays were a little cheesy looking. None the less, I really do appreciate a good quality museum and this place did not disappoint. We spent close to 3 hours here and viewed maybe 50% of what they had to offer. Great place to do a family outing if you are in the neighborhood.
P.S. Be sure you check out one of their special exhibits. It's just a few extra dollars to add it onto your general admission ticket and well worth it. -
Review from Lauren L.
4/2/2012
Two lines. I don't wait in line. A line to get in and a line for tickets. Fine, I'll wait.
I won't lie I wanted a map, but didn't get one. Just wonder. It ends up being more fun.
Come after brunch with some booze in your system, learning about space is way more fun. Totally missed the butterfly show because I wasn't paying, AGAIN. Seeing them on the ad was good enough.
Take it all in but make sure you include breaks ... you don't need any exhibits when you can just people watch. Perfect spot for it.
And for the record, the Mexican part of the museum, does not serve guac.
Officially crossed this off my 'Things to do in NY list.' Feelin' accomplished. -
Review from Louis R.
4/2/2012
African Lions - check
Bengali Tigers - check
Alaskan Polar Bears - check
Asian Peoples Exhibit - check
Nekked boobies on cromagnon women - check
Dark shark/whale/jellyfish exhibit where you can mess around with your date - check
Foreigners speaking gibberish "on" long lines buying tickets - check
Drunk Italian chick tryna cut the lines and insulting foreigner chicks in red tights - check -
Review from Ann L.
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went to the American Museum of Natural History on our first day in NYC. B. wanted to see the Hayden Planetarium one of his must on the trip. He loved it. I on the other hand stayed awake for maybe 5 min, then fell asleep, woke up when it was over.
One adult & one adult w/ College ID was $44 - pretty expensive.
There's 4 floors of stuff to see. Tons of kids on March 28, 2012 on field trips. Very annoying.
Dinosaurs on one of the main entrances & 4th Fl has tons of them. Other floors had animals that are filled with clay inside, animal fur outside to look real. Gems on 3rd Fl was ok.
We stayed about 3hrs, but didn't see everything.Listed in: NYC 2012
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Review from Rita Y.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
One of the largest museums around. I was already tired from all the walking we've done to see the sights in NYC, so when hubby brought us here, $38 for two, I was struck with how much MORE walking there was going to be for the day. By the time the museum was closing, we had already been there 6 hrs and still had not seen everything. it is that big. I especially enjoyed the gem, mineral exhibits. Beautiful cut stones too, including the Star of India and a display of "star" sapphires, rubies, tiger eyes, etc. Even a rare red diamond, one of 5 in the world and stones even rarer than diamonds.
One room on cultures was very educational about Iranian, Koren, Chinese, European cultures, etc. Native garments, tools, weapons, housing or models of, were on display. Some exhibits require additional costs: butterfly special dinosaur exhibit. There is the regular dinosaur exhibit, rooms and rooms of dinosaurs from Canada, Wyoming, Arizona. The science exhibit is the most modern. My biggest complaint is they do not have enough bathrooms and are placed in far away places, you have to navigate thru many rooms just to find a restroom.
Plan to be there all day and start early because it is big.Listed in: Stomping Around NYC
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Review from Caren C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012
I loved the exhibits of the "peoples" -- it was quite entertaining =)
And the dinosaur skeletons were pretty neat too. Have fun here and feel like a kid again! -
Review from Karen P.
I've been coming to this museum since I was in third grade. I believe most of the exhibits have stayed the same since. The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life did go through a renovation and looks better. The planetarium is also not that old.
I think this is a great museum for kids and families. When family comes to New York, I often take them here and it often becomes one of their favorite places in the city. My favorite places in the Museum are the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, the planetarium, and all the different cultural halls like of Mexico & Central American, the South American Peoples, The Eastern Woodland Indians,The Stout Hall of Asian Peoples and the Margaret Mead Hall of Pacific Peoples.
This is also a great place to stop by if you're on a budget. You don't have to pay full price to see the museum, instead you can pay suggestion donation. All the temporary exhibits and IMAX & Planetarium movies do cost full price though. Also, if you hate crowds then the earlier you come the better. Also, it's less crowded on weekends. Stay away near the holidays, this place gets even more crowded then. -
Review from Sue Z.
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
alright alright, let me preface this by saying-- i shouldn't have assumed the first day of spring break in NY would be a fantastic time to come to this museum.
that being said, it was completely chaotic. if you have it in your power, TRY to come here on a weekday, when it's not overrun with Lord of the Flies psycho children running about.
transportation- the subway drops you literally right at the doors, where you buy tickets. if you want to save time (especially if you know there will be big crowds, buy them online,- you'll be charged a few dollars more).
now i've been itching to see the "special exhibitions" for weeks now. in subways, they have the ads for the "creatures of the light" everywhere. and it looks pretty badass. the tickets are not cheap, but we got the whole shebang that included the special exhibits.
And here's the thing-- which is really annoying to me-- they charge at least 10-15 more for the exhibits, but it really should be free. what you have is someone going to home depot or other hardware store and putting together a big jellyfish with light bulbs on it. i mean jesus, i don't need real live jellyfish coming at me, but this was literally just another small room, with lightbulbs going about. i suppose i've been spoiled by the long beach aquarium, where i'm used to LIVE creatures, and actually seeing displays that are worthy of the price tag.
make sure to grab a map, because the place is huge and super confusing. there are cafes on almost every floor, and if you like taking elevators, chances are, they're broken, so bring your walking shoes.
i enjoyed the different asian cultures exhibit. there was an authentic carriage that chinese brides were carried in before the big day, and it was quite lovely. gems from China, Tibet, Japan, Iran were side by side, ranging from clothing, to weapons, to books. And ofcourse don't forget to go see the dinosaur section, though even that was a bit underwhelming.
all in all i'm very glad i came here, since i've never been. i will not be coming here again. i think most (older) people come here for sentimental reasons- maybe they grew up with the museum-- but this is geared mainly towards children. and word of advice- don't pay for the "special" exhibits. save your money and buy a hotdog outside. -
Review from Mike S.
New York, NY
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
If Yelp had 1/2 stars, I would give it 3 1/2 stars... Reason? Elevators are slow and always crowded. If you've been there once, you've been there a 1000 times.
However, on this particular occasion, I came with my daughters to see the Butterfly exhibit. Even though the exhibit was small, it was really cool. What made it even better was almost 2 minutes after we entered, a butterfly landed on my daughter's hand. The look on her face alone made it so worth coming to the museum.
If the museum did more interactive exhibits for kids, I think it would be so much better. -
Review from Ileana S.
2/19/2012
Two years ago, I came to New York for the very first time with my BFF. She is a huge fan of dinosaurs. This meant that the AMNH was a complete must on this trip.
Two years later, me and the bf were on the lookout for a museum adventure after enjoying an oh-so-delicious weekend brunch. It was between the MOMA and AMNH. AMNH obviously won. :)
Our first stop? The dinosaurs.
I don't know about you but I think the AMNH made the dinosaur section the hardest section to get to. I think they make you travel your way around a maze through different sections of the museums before you get to the dinosaurs. On purpose.
And there they were. Massive. Dinosaurs. My favorite? The T-Rex.
Sort of reminds me of this song: http://www.youtube.com...
PLUSES:
+ Dinosaurs. Obviously.
+ There is a wooden platform below the Blue Whale on the first floor. Take some time to lay down on the wooden platform. On your back, looking up and underneath the whale. 94 foot long whale model of amazingness. You won't regret it. I promise.
MINUSES:
- Admission is expensive. Wah. Why?!!
- Parking is expensive. Wah. Why?!!
- So many kiddos. Crying. Smelly diapers. Strollers bumping into you. Irritable parents.
NOTE:
- If you are taking kiddos there, please be sure to give them an appropriate anatomy lesson. I don't think you want to explain what that flaccid skin is between the caveman's legs. O.o Eep. -
Review from Albert P.
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
The American Museum of Natural History is my absolute favorite part of NYC. It's perfect for a date, an educational visit, or just a daytime activity.
My must-see exhibits are the Ocean Room, the Evolution area and the dinosaurs.
If you're visiting the city and have time to see the museum, I strongly suggest you do so. There's so much to see, but there's definitely time to see the highlights (dinosaurs, elephants, Easter Island head, the whale) in one day.
We just visited today and we're already looking forward to our next chance to go back. -
Review from Derek B.
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Probably my favorite museum in the city. Lots of really cool exhibits, models, and information. The kid inside of me loves looking at all the life sized taxidermy, while the adult loves learning all the fun random knowledge about the exhibits(the Blue Whale weighs as much as 24 African elephants!!).
Useful information: You don't have to pay full price for admission if you don't feel like it, just a donation of your choice. However, if you plan on seeing any of the extra exhibits or shows, bring plenty of money because those tix aren't cheap. Also, if you can devote a full day to this place, do it. It's huge and often really crowded so it's going to take awhile to see everything. And lastly, keep your map handy...For some reason I find the floorplan of this place incredibly confusing.
Definitely a must do for a local or tourist. -
Review from Allison C.
New York, NY
Always an adventure!
I learned that whales produce milk for their babies that consists of 50% fat. Compare that to whole cow's milk, which is merely 4% fat. When feeding their adorable whale babies, said whale babies grow, on average, at a rate of 9 pounds per HOUR.
I learned that there is a mineral named "Cummingtonite". My 12th Grade Geology teacher never taught me that. I'm disappointed in him, but pleased that the museum didn't keep me in the dark about it.
I learned about the taxidermist, Carl Akeley, that collected the gorillas for some of the diorama exhibits. Though originally there to collect specimens, after experiencing killing them, he became an advocate for their preservation. Fascinating story!
I learned the difference between butterflies and moths. I thought I knew. OH. No. I didn't.
I learned, via Laurie the Speed Walking Tour Guide, why the floor plan of the museum does not flow well: basically, once they got some money, they'd add a building here, a floor there, with no real plan as to how to tie them all together in a sensible way. Okay. Bien.
I learned that meteorites are...well, kind of boring.
I learned that "Lucy" was named for "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", the song that was playing as scientists celebrated finding her remains.
I learned that most parents DO NOT care to discipline their children whilst visiting here. If two young women (say, my friend and I), are sitting quitely watching a short film made in 1985 about the Gold Rush in a 10' x 10' space, it is absolutely appropriate for parents to let their four children come in, have one of them step of my friend's left foot without apologizing, then proceed to stand directly in front of the screen and bang their fists against the walls and squeal for absolutely no reason. YES.
And still...
It is fun for all ages and is always a learning experience. It's simply magic. -
Review from Brian S.
2/28/2012 2 Check-ins Here
We take our 2 toddlers here all the time - they love it!
We typically only hit the "dinosaur bones" as my oldest says (located on the 4th floor), but there are plenty of things to see throughout the wing. They have interactive touchscreens that the kids love to poke at, as well as the usual skeletons. There's also a nice seating area with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Central Park where you can rest or have a quick snack.
Another must-see if you have small children is the marine wing, with the famous whale hanging from the ceiling. It's dark in there, and kids love running around and taking in all the sights and sounds!
The museum obviously gets crowded with tourists, so be forewarned. Security also take their jobs pretty seriously, so don't be surprised if you get admonished for doing something that doesn't seem to be egregious.
One negative: the elevators are horrific. It seems they always have a set of them that are under repair. And the ones that do work take FOREVER. Don't be passive when you're waiting for an elevator - just get in there before you get pushed aside! -
Review from Lindsy H.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2012 1 photo
Very big museum and crazy busy all the time!
I'm reviewing the 4th floor cafe.
Be prepared to wait in line. It goes quick but, don't count on finding a table once you have your food. There are about 4 window round tables (2-3 people per) and 6-7 tables for two squished together, so if a couple of families sit, seating is gone.
We went on a Thursday and purposely went well after lunch time hoping to miss the bigger school crowds & lunch crowd too. We missed the massive crowds, but the cafe was out of bottled water & other staples. The turkey sandwich was good, fruit cup too, skip the cookies-they are super dry.
An okay snack, but I truly expected more, especially for the cost. -
Review from Diana H.
Baldwin Park, CA
I had to come back to the AMNH twice. I didn't have enough time to look at everything. If you are like me, a person who reads everything, then you need more than two days here. There is so much to see and so much to remember! I miss NY for its museums, beauty, and monuments! OOH...and I love their BUTTERFLY Exhibit...i love those butterflies! v
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Review from Mr F G and Ms M S.
Flushing, NY
1/27/2012 65 photos
This museum is big , so allow some time when visiting this place. We were lucky when we went there, it was a weekday, during cold winter day after the holiday season time, so it wasn't that crowded..
Other than just a museum, they also have the IMAX films, space show, & special exhibitions. We chose to view the museum only, it's suggested donation BTW.
We love the dinosaurs section, the rest of the place is nice although a bit outdated.
Kudos to the display of the dioramas, it's well executed, and maintained, though we prefer if they would display more hard to find animals instead, other than just the usual animals we could see in the zoo.. (the bear, elephant, etc)
The layout of the museum is very messy ! Hang on to your map guys!
For the sheer size and information , this is a definitely one museum to go when in town. -
Review from Scott K.
Nashua, NH
3/2/2012
We spent the last day of our trip to Manhattan at the museum. My daughter and I especially like the butterfly exhibition. Where else can you see 500-600 tropical butterflies? What made the exhibition even better is your allow to enter heated and humidified area and have them fly around you. You get as close as a finger tip to them. Really a fun experience.
http://vimeo.com/19568784 -
Review from Addi M.
2/20/2012
Ever since I was little, I've DREAMED of going to a museum where dinosaur fossils towered over you, and finally got my chance!
My first suggestion is to start from the fourth floor, and work your way down. That way, you roughly follow the passing of time, from dinosaurs to early mammals, to early humans, and downward. Wear comfy shoes, and bring your patience; busloads of shrieking children frequent here, as well as families, so if you want to look at every little thing, you'll need to dedicate an entire half-day.
Some of the exhibits are clearly dated; animals behind glass are covered with a thick layer of dust, and the exhibits for native cultures could use a refresher. Also, the second and first floors are practically labyrinths of humanity, and it's terribly easy to get lost and turned around.
But that moment when you reach the aquatic area and marvel at the sight of a life-size blue whale model hanging above you, and you're wondering how something so big can be so elusive and beautiful and how you're just so tiny in comparison, it's pure magic. -
Review from Natalya R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I come back time and time again. You dont want to spend all day in there. Go for an hour, pick an exhibit or a movie to watch. Take your friends or your loved one there. After exploring, take a lunch with you and walk around in the Central park.
That summons up on how you really should spend your day. -
Review from Michael C.
Fresno, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Museum plus religious institute. Come to enjoy the many sights, stay to get brainwashed.
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Review from John H.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
If I could carry around a lawn chair and wheel my tailgate cooler to each room, then I think could spend a whole day here. Aside from the planetarium and special feature films, I really like the exhibits of North American and African mammals surrounded by reasonable facsimiles of their native biomes. The dinosaur rooms are full of reassembled fossil skeletons, some of them quite large. The Wallenbach Orientation Center on the fourth floor is a good place to rest your feet, take advantage of free Wi-Fi, and plot your next move.
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Review from Lisa B.
1/10/2012
Wow! This place is a whole city in itself. Wear comfortable shoes.
My only complaint was that it was hard to navigate. I felt I had to backtrack a lot to get to other floors.
Love that the donation amount is suggested. $15 is a lot to drop for a grad student doing free research in Texas. Thanks for opening your doors to me!Listed in: Cheap Finds in a New York…
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Review from Leonard W.
Jamaica, NY
1/15/2012
Being a product of the NYC Public School system, I visited this museum on a myriad of field trips. Today, since it was 20 degrees and I had nothing to do until the Giants game started, I took a trip back to the museum. As many people said, it's suggested donations. I paid $4 (I'm a broke law school student). The museum compensates for the frugality of its patrons by overcharging in the cafeteria and making people pay full price for the special exhibits.
The museum is full of educational exhibits. My favorite exhibits were actually the videos. One video was about the 60 year old Indian man killing a monkey and climbing a tree. The other, which was narrated by Tom Brokaw, was about how man was destroying the planet by over-development and pollution, yada yada yada. I also liked the Moby Dick-looking whale, the Olmec head, and the dinosaurs on the 4th floor. After an hour, however, I started to get bored. There were lots of kids in the museum, but you can't really complain about that (I'd rather they visit a museum than play X-Box all day). If it's a cold or rainy day and you have nothing better to do, than come to this renowned New York institution. If it's 75 degrees and sunny, visit the Bronx Zoo. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
This place is really magical.
I have a membership because my family was in town and it was cheaper that way. You can spend days and days here. On my first visit I saw the heavy hitters - Dinosaurs, Whale, etc. I came back and did the other floors, including the Shrunken Head. The Butterfly exhibit is great.
I like to come here even if I don't have any kids or vistitors to show around. It just fills me with a lovely, childlike sense of wonder. Come here and then come back and back and back. -
Review from Canh T.
Suggested donation for admission into the museum. Price I paid? $1.
Don't judge.
When they ask for your money, just ask them what the price is and then give them however much you want. I'm a student, so I can justify this. Ahaha. If, however, if you are making 6 figures and pay a dollar, then I would judge you.
I spent two hours in here and didn't even knock out half of the museum. -
Review from Lenna P.
12/23/2011
I could easily spend a month in this museum and not get bored.
American Museum of Natural History has always been my favorite museum. I used to beg my parents to take me here every weekend. The last time I was here was 12 years ago, so I was super excited to come back.
DINOSAURS!!! The 4th floor is amazing! My favorite exhibit. Its so fascinating to look at the fossils that archaeoligists worked so hard to find and put together. Makes me want to rent Jurassic park again.
The butterfly conservatory and frogs-a chorus of colors is now open. I found it to be very interesting and beautiful.
Mammals. Lots and lots of mammals (Asian, North American and African) You could easily spend an entire day just going through these sections reading all the facts...good times.
I also LOVE the cultural halls- Northwest Coast Indians, Eastern Woodlands and Plains Indians, African, Asian, Mexico etc.
Ocean life is also breathtaking.
I recommend doing coat check. If you're planning on doing exhibits expect to pay a lot cause it adds up real fast.
I could go on and on for days. You have to see it to believe it! -
Review from Rachel K.
Groton, CT
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
LOVED! Amazing and not too expensive.
Give yourself an entire day to truly experience the awesomeness of this place! -
Review from JoAnna D.
12/11/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The American Museum of Natural History is my absolute favorite part of NYC. It's perfect for a date, an educational visit, or just a daytime activity.
I bought a dual membership for my boyfriend & me, and we visit the museum about once a month. The special exhibits usually take up most of our time - every one we've seen has been fun, interesting, educational, & fascinating. And every time we visit, it seems that we discover a section that we haven't explored!
My must-see exhibits are the Ocean Room, the Evolution area (1st floor), & the dinosaurs. And the Butterflies! The special exhibits are always worth seeing as well.
If you're visiting the city & have time to see the museum, I strongly suggest you do so. There's so much to see, but there's definitely time to see the highlights (dinosaurs, elephants, Easter Island head, the whale, the Sequoia slice, etc.) in one day. And if you live in the area, the museum should be on your regular rotation.
We just visited yesterday, and we're already looking forward to our next chance to go back. :)Listed in: Places that make me say "Awwww…, Ready, Aim ...
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Review from Janine C.
1/14/2012
The Museum of Natural History is one of New York City's true treasures. Despite it needing some dusting and the occasional nip and tuck, there is something timeless about this place. I particularly enjoy the exhibit featuring rare minerals, petrified wood and all sorts of breath-taking stones any lady would kill to have on her finger. I love that many of the items on display are 'open', allowing guests to get really close, photograph and touch them. It's also pretty phenomenal that Lucy's skeletal remains can be viewed here. And there will always be a magical element to the giant, soaring whale and its surrounding sea life.
What a great way to spend your Saturday afternoon. And when you're done, head to Levain for a ooey-gooey cookie! It's just a couple of blocks away! -
Review from JP T.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
In case anyone is wondering if Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) still works here, the answer is NO. He has been replaced by a bunch of rude, clueless employees who sound like they would rather be mowing the lawn at nearby Central Park than working at one of the nicest museums in NYC.
Enounter #1
Friend: Excuse me, can you point us towards the blue whale?
Worker: What?
Friend: The blue whale, the big one.
Worker: There (pointing with her lips)
Friend: Where
Worker: There (pointing to outer space)
Friend: (confused look)
Worker: Through the gift shop to the other side.
Should that have been that difficult?
Enounter #2
Friend: Excuse me, can you tell me where the Wooly Mammoth is?
Worker: The what?
Friend: Wooly mammoth
Worker: What?
Friend: (arm impersonating trunk of the wooly mammoth)
Me: (uncontrollably laughing about 15 feet away)
Worker: Around the corner
Seriously. I am not making either of these stories up. The worker in encounter #1 might have been one of Halle Berry's friends in BAPS and worker 2 was the real life version of the old man in UP.
The museum itself is pretty awesome, especially the blue whale and their dinosaur exhibit. However, the workers need to step their service and education about animals up a bit. -
Review from Kathy I.
Alexandria, VA
1/4/2012
Skip it. Not worth the dollars or effort. Went with great expectation on 12/29/2011 with two adults and four children - one in a wheel chair.
The crowds were crushing. Long lines outside and inside. The fire marshal could not approve of those numbers. The staff is uninformed, inefficient, and unfriendly. This is true from coat check to guards. Not a docent to be found.
The museum is wheel chair hostile. The elevators were very, very slow. Fellow patrons were rude and pushy. Ramps are narrow and tight. Hallways are dimly lit and tight.
Wanted to ask for a refund, but did not know where to ask.
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