Explore the natural world, from prehistoric fossils to the edge of the universe, at the American Museum of Natural History—where science meets storytelling.
Getting started
Enter via the main entrance at Central Park West & 79th Street. Show your ticket and photo ID. All visitors go through a security screening. One special exhibit is included with your ticket—select at entry.
What to expect
A vast museum filled with awe-inspiring exhibits on evolution, biodiversity, geology, marine life, human origins, and space.
Features
Special exhibits: Choose one rotating ticketed exhibit, like The Butterfly Vivarium, Worlds Beyond Earth, Encounters in the Milky Way, Life at the Limits, or the immersive Invisible Worlds.
Butterfly Vivarium: A tropical, climate-controlled, interactive vivarium with over 80 species of butterflies & moths.
Worlds Beyond Earth: A giant-screen film about the evolution of the solar system, our planet, its neighbors, the moons, comets, and the asteroid belt.
Encounters in the Milky Way: An interactive, immersive film at the Hayden Planetarium about our galaxy, created with the help of astronomers, gathered scientific data, and visual artists taking you on a visual journey around the Milky Way.
Life at the Limits: A series of displays and dioramas that give you a closer look at nature's most resilient organisms and their environments from around the world.
Invisible Worlds: An interactive, immersive exhibit that shows you the interconnectedness of everything on our planet, from plankton on the ocean floor to the forests in the Amazon.
Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs: Learn more about the asteroid collision that happened 66 million years ago, which resulted in the end of the age of dinosaurs, and the explosion of life that followed.
Fossil Halls: Stand beneath fossilized giants like the Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, and the 122-foot titanosaur.
Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals: View 5,000+ gems, glowing minerals, and amethyst geodes that tell Earth’s ancient story.
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life: Gaze up at a 94-foot blue whale model and learn about ocean ecosystems and marine species.
Mammal dioramas: Encounter lifelike wildlife in the Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals and Akeley Hall of African Mammals.
Hall of Human Origins: Track our evolutionary journey through fossils and interactive displays.
Rose Center for Earth and Space: Discover the universe’s timeline with digital shows and exhibits in the Hayden Planetarium.
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Keep in mind that food, drinks, luggage & large bags are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!
Shutterbugs, take note: Flash photography, tripods, drones, and selfie sticks are a no-go inside the venue.
You can select the special exhibit of your choice at the ticket counter when you arrive based on your preference.
The Museum has a parking garage at its 81st entrance and a subway stop (81st Street – Museum of Natural History) where the B and C trains stop.
If you live in New York State, you can choose your own admission price — just show a valid ID at the entrance.
The museum offers free entry during the last hour of the day, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
This activity is non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. Variant-specific cancellation policies may apply.
