Photo of Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation in New York1 / 3
Museums & Landmarks

Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation

šŸ“ Manhattan, NY

ā˜…4.8(456 Google reviews)šŸ‘¶All ages

An architecturally dramatic addition to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, featuring live butterfly vivarium with timed entry, fossil displays, realistic animal exhibits, a cafe, and pram-friendly access across multiple levels.

āœ“ Stunning architectureāœ“ Butterfly vivariumāœ“ Fossil displaysāœ“ Pram-friendlyāœ“ Kid-friendly exhibitsāœ“ Part of AMNH

šŸ† Family Action Verdict

Best for families with children of any age who respond to immersive, large-scale environments - the architecture alone warrants the visit. Budget separately for the butterfly vivarium, which adds meaningfully to the experience. Arrive later in the day for reduced admission and fewer crowds.

ā„¹ļø What to Know Before You Go

šŸ’”Visit after a certain hour for reduced general admission - check the AMNH website for current times
ā°Budget separately for special exhibits like the butterfly vivarium beyond general admission
šŸŽŸļøAllow more time than planned - the space is larger and more immersive than it appears from outside
šŸš—Security staff are reliably helpful for directions

šŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.8
ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…

456 Google reviews

G Reviews from Google

B

Berele

8 months ago

ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…

ā€œAbsolutely loved this after hours event. Grains of Change: The History of Rice Across Asia was such a smart idea and the venue could not have been better. The museum after dark has a totally different energy. There was a DJ playing genuinely good music, vendors selling everything from dumpling shaped candles to rice wine, and plenty of food to snack on while wandering the exhibits. It felt social without being crowded or chaotic. The exhibits themselves were fantastic. From the butterfly room to dinosaurs on display, including one that casually happens to be a $44 million fossil, the whole night felt special and a little surreal in the best way. It was fun, interesting, well organized, and just a great way to spend a Thursday night. Honestly, I cannot think of a better use of this space or a better concept for an event. Would absolutely go again.ā€

C

Caleb Walker

9 months ago

ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…

ā€œAbsolutely amazing location for fossil displays. Loved how all of them were presented. Other parts of the museum had incredibly realistic displays. 10/10 would drive another 3 hours to spend all day thereā€

K

Kimberly Tuano

7 months ago

ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…

ā€œGreat architecture and design! Part of the AMNH but this space alone is quite huge and very kid friendly. We went there for the butterfly exhibit mainly and I appreciate the time slots but they actually can let you in as well at a different time than your reserved one if its not too crowded which i appreciated since we actually missed our 1:30pm one. The butterfly exhibit was okay. i actually thought i’d love it but there wasnt much butterflies during our visit unless they were mostly resting idk. didnt stay long too coz it got hot and we were still wearing out winter coats lol but they were really pretty and i enjoyed watching them from the magnifying glass while they had some fruit.The dinosaur exhibit was nice and educational. The lower level with bugs and insects was probably one of my faves and I wished we spent more time there. However having a toddler in tow can make us quite exhausted lol but nevertheless we had a fun time!ā€

šŸ’¬ What parents mention

Beautiful architecture and designExcellent fossil and dinosaur exhibitsKid-friendly and diverse exhibitsExtra cost for special exhibits

Overview

The Gilder Center extends the American Museum of Natural History with a distinctive latticed atrium housing natural history exhibits across multiple floors. Fossil galleries feature prominent dinosaur displays alongside highly realistic animal dioramas. The butterfly vivarium operates on timed entry slots. General admission after a certain hour is reduced. The cafe and pram-accessible layout make it manageable with young children.

šŸ• Opening Hours

Monday10:00-17:30
Tuesday10:00-17:30
Wednesday10:00-17:30
Thursday10:00-17:30
Friday10:00-17:30
Saturday10:00-17:30
Sunday10:00-17:30

šŸ“ Other Museums & Landmarks in Manhattan

View all →

šŸ“ Similar Activities Nearby

View more in New York →
Free to use

Find more Museums & Landmarks nearby

Explore 6,500+ family-friendly places across America, wherever the day takes you.

  • Nearby activities

    Find great places close to you

  • Directions in one tap

    Get there easily with maps & navigation

  • Free to use

    No sign up. No cost. Ever.

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store

Safe, secure and 100% free, no account, no ads. Learn more

Family Action app, venues near you, sorted by distance
Family Action app, venue detail with directions, website and call