New York Attractions: American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is located on New York City's upper west side, at 79th Street and Central Park West. Established in 1869, it continues to be one of the world's most important natural history collections and research facilities. Originally located in the old arsenal building in Central Park, the museum quickly outgrew those quarters and moved to its present location in 1874. The museum has attracted world-class research scientists throughout its history. Among past affiliates are Margaret Mead, Franz Boas, and Roy Chapman Andrews (the inspiration for movie character, Indiana Jones). A visit to the American Museum of Natural History is a delight for young and older visitors and the volume of exhibits ensure that there's something new to see every time you visit.

The Exhibits

The AMNH's exhibits are designed to help educate visitors about the animal and plant life among which we live and have lived. Among the most popular displays are:

Fossil Halls
The museum's two dinosaur halls are home to the world's largest collection of vertebrate fossils - more than one million species. Among the highlights of the collection are the huge, reconstructed Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus.

Rose Center for Earth and Space
The newest section of the museum, completed in 2000, the Rose Center is a thrilling 120-foot high, 333,500-square foot exhibition space. The modern, architectural icon includes the largest glass curtain wall in the United States and is home to the reworked Hayden Planetarium and a host of exhibits about space and the universe. The Hall of Universe here includes a variety of displays about the stars and their galaxies.

The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
This popular exhibit features of the museum's icons - the 94-foot blue whale. You can also see dioramas of other marine and aquatic life, including dolphins, porpoises, and squid.

The Cultural Halls
This section explores the work of anthrop lists Margaret Mead and Frank Boas, and gives insight into the cultures of South America, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific.

Bird and Mammal Halls
The bird and mammal halls feature a huge variety of local (New York), North American, and Global animals and birds in life-like diorama.

Imax Theater

Visiting the AMNH

The American Museum of Natural History is open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving Day and December 25, from 10am to 545pm. The museum is also open late on the first Friday on the month, until 8pm. It is easily accessible from all parts of town via subway. There's a subway station adjacent to the museum.

The museum has several dining options for hungry visitors. There is a food court on the lower level, offering a variety of sandwiches, salads, soft drinks, and coffee. The Café on 4 offers sandwiches, salads, gourmet cheese plates, and half bottles of wine and Champagne. The Starlight Café offers light snacks as well as children's favorites, such as hot dogs and chicken nuggets, and the Tapas Bar is open on the first Friday of each month and offers Spanish tapas, Sangria and wine, and live jazz, all overlooking the Hall of Universe.

The museum's store is a must-see for any museum visitor. It's full of interesting and unique items, ranging from dinosaur board games to umbrellas depicting the giant blue whale to jewelry designed after South Pacific artifacts, and much, much more.

The American Museum of Natural is a fascinating place to visit for young and old. The sheer volume of displays means that you can't help but discover something new each time you visit. The American Museum of Natural History is truly an American treasure.

Location:

The American Museum of Natual History is located at Central Park West between 77th St and 81st St.

Current Museum Hours:

Daily 10:00am - 5:45pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Click here to visit the American Museum of Natual History website.