American Museum of Natural History: The world’s history of nature in one building
Since its opening on Dec. 22, 1877, the American Museum of Natural History has been one of the Big Apple’s most visited tourist points. Four stories of exhibits express a diverse range of topics. Young and old alike will be taken aback by the large dinosaur fossils, the great blue whale and the many cultural halls.
The museum literally bulges at its unforgettable façade’s seams with scientific knowledge and wonder. It provides a full day of opportunities to interact with our planet's truths and mysteries. Permanent exhibits house some of the facility’s finest gems – not to mention birds and bones, and sticks and stones.
The perfect solution to a rainy New York morning or afternoon, the museum includes a “Hall of Biodiversity,” a visual depiction of the range of our world’s biodiversity. Visitors can view an IMAX film or enjoy a meal, either at the food court or from a less expensive third-party vendor usually located directly in front of the museum. Make sure to visit the museum’s Hall of Ocean Life and see the big humpback whale.
Some of the most popular permanent exhibits include the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs (Fourth Floor); Hall of Ortnithischian Dinosaurs (Fourth Floor); Milstein Hall of Ocean Life (First Floor); Hall of Biodiversity (First Floor); Guggenheim Hall of Minerals (First Floor); Akeley Hall of African Mammals; Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway; and Eastern Woodlands and Plains Indians.
Some tips for a successful visit:
- Get a free map. It helps visitors get around all four floors of exhibits.
- Plan to check your coat, umbrella and bags at the coat check for a modest fee.
- IMAX films and space shows are an excellent way to break up a full day of walking.
If it's your first visit, take a “Highlights Tour” offered hourly from 10:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. This one-hour tour covers the museum's primary exhibits and can help you determine which halls to revisit and explore more closely. Check the museum’s web site for special events and more details.
- by Jim Brown , New York Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
