American Museum of Natural History

“The world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, spanning four city blocks on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Since its founding, it has served as a global leader in scientific research and public education, housing over 34 million specimens and artifacts. Early Years: Originally housed in the Central Park Arsenal, the museum moved to its current location in Manhattan Square in 1877. The first building was opened by President Rutherford B. Hayes. Golden Age of Exploration: Between 1880 and 1930, the museum sponsored legendary expeditions worldwide. Notable highlights include Roy Chapman Andrews’ discovery of the first dinosaur eggs in the Gobi Desert and Robert Peary’s Arctic expeditions. Diorama Innovation: In the early 20th century, pioneers like Carl Akeley revolutionized museum displays by creating lifelike habitat dioramas, many of which remain iconic features of the museum today. Modern Expansion: The museum has continued to evolve with the addition of the Rose Center for Earth and Space in 2000 and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation in 2023. The institution is dedicated to discovering and disseminating knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through its 45 permanent exhibition halls. Fossil Halls: Home to one of the world's greatest assemblages of dinosaur bones, including a 122-foot-long Titanosaur and a massive Tyrannosaurus rex. Milstein Hall of Ocean Life: Famous for its 94-foot-long blue whale model suspended from the ceiling, representing the largest animal to ever live. Space & Beyond: The Hayden Planetarium offers cutting-edge space shows and immersive experiences that explore the origins and systems of our solar system and galaxy. Human Origins: The Spitzer Hall of Human Origins showcases the evidence of human evolution, featuring famous fossils like "Lucy."”

“We visited the American Museum of Natural History as a family, and it was a wonderful experience. On the first floor, we explored many different animals and their habitats — bears, deer, caribou, tigers, lions, and more. On the second floor, we went into the planetarium for the Big Bang show, which was fascinating to see from a scientific point of view. We also loved the massive blue whale and all the beautiful sea creatures around it. This museum is also great for kids. My 3-year-old daughter was curious about everything and kept asking, “What is this? What is this?” It was a beautiful way for her to learn and expand her understanding of the world. One of my favorite parts was the section about world cultures. I truly appreciated seeing the displays about Islam — the Kaaba, the Qur’an, traditional Muslim clothing, and cities like Isfahan. When the azan played, my daughter immediately recognized it and said, “Mama, that’s azan!” It made me so happy. Tip: The museum is huge, so don’t try to finish it in one visit. We stayed from 12:00 to 4:30 and still saw only part of it. Definitely worth visiting!”

“The American Museum of Natural History is massive. Do not be like me and think you can "squeeze in" a visit here to indulge your curiosity quickly. You will get lost immediately in the 21 buildings, 45 exhibition halls and 2,500,000 square feet of space. Since my time was in fact limited, I chose a few highlights and walked as quickly to each of them as possible. I am not saying I was walking 1/2 miles in between each exhibit, but I may have. Again, plan this place out and don't just go wandering around. I loved the dinosaurs, gems and anything with animals. Just when you thought you had seen a lot of dinosaurs at this museum, there is yet another room filled with even more of them. It is unbelievable! Love this place! Attached are a few highlights from the things I was able to see. #amnh #nyc #museum #dinosaurmuseum”

“Fantastic place to spend the day. And trust me you will spend the entire day here! I didn’t realise it was so huge. 5 floors of exhibits to enjoy. Must sees for me were the ocean room and the dinosaur fossils and I 10/10 recommend the extra for the butterfly vivarium. Loved being in the room with all the beautiful butterfly’s flying around and if you’re lucky one might land on your arm or head! Easy to get to via the subway. Loved it!”