Few city children grow up without visiting the
dinosaurs, the life-size dioramas of animal life, and other natural
wonders in this popular museum patronized by over 4 million people each
year. Since its founding in 1869, the museum has grown to 45 permanent
exhibition halls spanning four city blocks, 13 of them opened in the
past 10 years. Holdings include 30 million specimens and cultural
artifacts, many unique in the world. Newer exhibition areas such as the
Hall of Biodiversity, the renovated Fossil Halls, and the Rose Center, bring constantly updated research to visitors through multimedia installations.
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Central Park West, between 77th and 81 Sts
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212 769 5100
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www.amnh.org
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Open 10am–5:45pm daily; Rose Center open until 8:45pm on first Fri of month
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Adults $15, students and seniors $11, children $8.50, members free
Museum & Hayden Planetarium Space Show
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Enter from Central Park
West onto the 2nd floor to view the Barosaurus exhibit, and African,
Asian, and Central and South American peoples and animals. The Hall of
Biodiversity, ocean life, and minerals and gems are on the 1st floor.
North American Indians, birds, and reptiles are on the 3rd floor, and
dinosaurs and fossils on the 4th.
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Eat at the lower-level food court, or one of the three cafés.
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Visit the great dinosaurs, African mammals, and minerals and gems collection.
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Join a free tour of the museum’s highlights or enjoy free jazz concerts on the first Friday of each month.
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To obtain advance tickets to the Rose Center’s Space Show, call 212 769 5200
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Top 10 Exhibits
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Dinosaurs and Fossils
The
best-known hallmark of the museum, the collection of dinosaur fossils
is the world’s largest. The giant Barosaurus in the rotunda is the
highest free-standing exhibit.
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Mammals
Dramatic
dioramas of lifesize animals are divided by continents and shown in
accurate natural habitats. The wildlife ranges from colossal African
elephants to endangered Asian species such as lions and leopards.
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Ocean Life
The
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life explores the waters of the earth and their
inhabitants in skillful dioramas of ocean life. The hall is presided
over by a 94-ft (29-m) lifesize model of a blue whale.
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Hall of Biodiversity
Opened
in 1998 to encourage conservation, the hall contains a rainforest with
accurate sounds, plants, and inhabitants. The 100-ft (30-m) long
Spectrum of Life wall displays 1,500 specimens from bacteria to mammals,
as well as a giant squid overhead.
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Hall of Asian Peoples
Exquisite
artifacts, artwork, costumes, and dioramas of daily life show the
different religions and lifestyles of Chinese, Korean, Indian, and other
Asian cultures.
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Hall of African Peoples
These
depictions of tribes living in various environments reflect 100 years
of research. The displays include dwellings, clothing, masks, textiles,
weapons, and tools.
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Meteorites, Minerals, and Gems
Wonders
include the 563-carat Star of India, a 596-lb (270-kg) topaz crystal
from Brazil, and the Cape York meteorite, 4.5 billion years old and
weighing 34 tons.
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Northwest Coast Indians
This
area features Native American totem poles showing the woodworking
skills of tribes living from Washington state to southern Alaska. Also
on show is a 63-ft (19-m) canoe built in 1878.
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Human Biology and Evolution
This
display of human origins and physical characteristics includes
reconstructed heads of early hominids that bring you face to face with
your predecessors.
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Birds of the World
The
museum has the world’s largest collection of birds – more than a
million specimens. The collection is organized geographically, with
separate halls displaying dioramas of oceanic, North American, and other
birds of the world.