Is The American Museum Of Natural History Free
American Museum of Natural History is free for visitors who qualify for one or more of the following conditions
- Caregivers accompanying visitors with disabilities
- US military and their families*
- Cool Culture pass holders
*From Armed Forces Day to Labor Day, all family members can enter for free. Rest of the year, along with the US military personnel, one guest gets free admission.
Even though general admission fees are waived for this set of visitors, they still require a timed-entry reservation.
Downtown Museum Dates Closed
- Thursday, Nov. 24Friday, Nov. 25
- Friday, Dec. 23Monday, Dec. 27
- Thursday, Nov. 24Friday, Nov. 25
- Friday, Dec. 23Monday, Dec. 27
- Thursday, Nov. 24Friday, Nov. 25
- Friday, Dec. 23Monday, Dec. 27
- Monday-Friday: 9am-3pm for groups by reservation
- Saturday: 10am2pm
- Thursday, Nov. 24Friday, Nov. 25
- Friday, Dec. 23Monday, Dec. 27
Richard Gilder Graduate School
The AMNH offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Earth Science and a PhD in Comparative Biology.
On October 23, 2006, the museum launched the Richard Gilder Graduate School, which offers a PhD in Comparative Biology, becoming the first American museum in the United States to award doctoral degrees in its own name. Accredited in 2009, in 2011 the graduate school had 11 students enrolled, who work closely with curators and they have access to the collections. The first seven graduates to complete the program were awarded their degrees on September 30, 2013. The dean of the graduate school is AMNH paleontologist John J. Flynn, and the namesake and major benefactor is Richard Gilder.
The MAT Earth Science Residency program was launched in 2012 to address a critical shortage of qualified science teachers in New York State, particularly in high-needs schools with diverse populations. In 2015, the MAT program officially joined the Richard Gilder Graduate School, with the NYS Board of Regents authorizing the Gilder School to grant the MAT degree. The program has about 16 graduates complete the program each year.
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Where To Buy Tickets
Visitors can buy tickets for the American Museum of Natural History online or at the venue.
Depending on the time of the day , you may have to wait in the ticket counter line for half an hour or more to buy your ticket.
Thats why we recommend you purchase the tickets online and save the waiting.
Update: Due to the Covid pandemic, ticket sales at the venue are suspended. Now, all visitors MUST purchase the tickets online before their visit. Same-day ticket purchase is also possible.
Advanced Online Tickets Are Highly Recommended To Ensure Entry Into The Museum And For Special Ticketed Experiences
- Admission tickets require a date selection.
- L.A. County Residents get free Museum Admission from 35 pm Monday through Friday. Tickets are available onsite only at the Natural History Museum ticket windows.
- Members, click on the button below to be taken to your Member Portal where you can select your tickets.
- Tickets are currently available through January 8, 2023
- Looking for Dino Fest tickets? Click here!
Safety Information for all ticket holders
- The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County no longer requires masks worn at all times indoors and in our outdoor Butterfly Pavilion, regardless of vaccination status. In accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, we still strongly recommend all visitors to continue wearing masks while indoors and ask that individual choices are respected. Read our safety guidelines before your visit.
BECOME A MEMBER
Become an NHMLAC insider! Join as a Member now to support our museums, receive free admission and special exhibition tickets, enjoy exclusive Member perks and hours, and receive invitations to programs with museum scientists and historians.
For assistance with reservations, call or email
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Access To The Natural History Museum By Skipping The Ticket Office Queues
With this early admission ticket you can visit the Natural History Museum without having to wait at the ticket office. Once inside, take your time and explore the gallery at your leisure.
Buying tickets to the New York Museum of Natural History will allow you to skip the lines at the ticket office and enjoy the permanent exhibits. Of course, security checks are unavoidable and may delay your access to the collection, which I describe below.
Once you have purchased your ticket, in order to take sanitary measures against COVID-19 during your visit, the museum also asks you to make a date reservation and a scheduled entry on the museumâs website to gain access to the museum. Once you receive the confirmation email you will find all the instructions to access the museum.
Why I like this option: with this advance ticket you are assured access to the Natural History Museum without having to wait in line at the ticket office. In addition, you can stay inside for as long as you want and explore the gallery at your leisure.
Recommended if⦠you are thinking of visiting the Natural History Museum and want to get an early bird ticket at the best price.
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Museums With Suggested Admission
American Museum of Natural History Pay-what-you-wish general admission is available to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, but timed-entry reservations must be booked in advance.
Brooklyn Museum General admission prices are suggested pay what you wish. For special exhibitions, you must pay the full price, which also includes general admission. Timed-entry reservations must be booked in advance.
The Cloisters Pay-what-you-wish admission is offered for New York state residents as well as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut students.
MoMA PS1 Timed-entry tickets are required NYC residents can enter for free or pay-what-they-wish.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is free on Monday afternoons and has family-friendly programming. Photo courtesy of the museum
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Accessibility / Language Assistance
If you have any questions about accessibility or language assistance, including Limited English Proficiency , at the Museum or would like to request an accommodation, please contact us at or .
To access the Museums Spanish translation hotline, please call: and select option #2.
If the format of any material on the Museums website interferes with your ability to access that material, please for assistance and indicate the nature of your accessibility request, the Internet address of the information you are trying to access, and your preferred format for an alternative means by which you may want to receive the informationi.e., an electronic format like ASCII, standard or large printalong with your contact information.
Please click on the tabs below to obtain details about Museum facilities, resources, tours, and programs.
81st Street/Rose Center for Earth and Space: Enter the Rose Center at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Coat check is temporarily unavailable. Accessible by wheelchair.
For Access-A-Ride service and GPS devices use the following address:
56 West 81st Street, New York, NY 10024
*Please note: The 81st Street/Museum of Natural History subway station and subway entrance to the Museum are not wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible subway station is the 72nd Street station , with a connection on the northbound M7 on Amsterdam Avenue.
- Near the subway entrance
First floor:
Fourth floor:
Romance Under The Stars
If youre looking for something fun to do with your significant other on Valentines Day, its hard to beat a visit to the Hayden Planetarium.
This event includes an open bar, hors-dâoeuvres, chocolates, and music.
After youve had your fill, head in, and enjoy an incredible view of the stars while your host describes some of the more interesting romantic tales tied to the night sky.
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Expansion And Later Changes
19th century
The original building was soon eclipsed by the south range of the museum, designed by J. Cleaveland Cady, an exercise in rusticated brownstone neo-Romanesque, influenced by H. H. Richardson. It extends 700 feet along West 77th Street, with corner towers 150 feet tall. Its pink brownstone and granite, similar to that found at Grindstone Island in the St. Lawrence River, came from quarries at Picton Island, New York.
20th century
In the early 1920s, museum president Henry Fairfield Osborn planned a new entrance for the AMNH, which was to contain a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. Also around that time, the New York state government formed a commission to study the feasibility of a Roosevelt memorial. After a dispute over whether to put the memorial in Albany or in New York City, the government of New York City offered a site next to the AMNH for consideration. The commission rejected a âconventional Greek mausoleumâ design, instead opting to design a triumphal arch and hall in a Roman style. In 1925, the AMNHâs trustees hosted an architectural design competition, selecting John Russell Pope to design the memorial hall. Construction began in 1929, and the trustees approved final plans the next year. J. Harry McNally was the general contractor. Rooseveltâs cousin, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, dedicated the memorial on January 19, 1936.
21st century
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Map Of American Museum Of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History comprises 26 interconnected buildings and has 45 permanent exhibition halls and a planetarium.
The massive museum contains more than 34 million exhibits, out of which only a small portion is on display at any time.
Being aware of the museums floor plan helps avoid getting lost and missing out on significant exhibits.
Besides helping you with the location of the exhibits and exhibitions, the American Museum of Natural Historys map also helps spot visitor services such as restrooms, cafes, souvenir shops, visitor assistance booths, etc.
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How Much Time Needed At Museum Of Natural History
Going to be in nyc on a day tour . Planning to take subway from Macys to museum when we arrive in city. How long will we approximately need to spend there? Were interested in getting the $32 package . Im aware the museum closes at 5pm. Is the $32 package worth it? We have never been there before.
Well, it would depend on how into this stuff you are. We spent 2 hours inside and we barely brushed the surface. For me, some of the information is just too overwhelming. For others, it wouldnt be. The Space area is really interesting, and one of my favorite parts of the museum. When we were there the last 2 times, they had a butterfly exhibit that was VERY cool!
I am not sure I understand your question. You do not need to spend any time there at all one may go or not go as one wishes. How much time you should spend there depends entirely on how many things in the various collections you want to look at, and how long you want to look at each of them. If you spend 10 seconds on each of three dinosaurs, you can be in and out in ten minutes, including taking photos out front. If you want to spend 30 seconds on every object on display, you will be there for months.
Helen in Aus 96
shell, go to the Metropolitian Museum instead. The Museum of Natural History is just like the one in LA. Not much different at all.
My 3 teenagers thought this was one of the best places we visited in NY.
-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-
Removed onNew York City
How To Get Here
The American Museum of Natural History is located across the street from Central Park, on Central Park West between West 77th and West 81st streets.
There are several different ways to get there, but well cover a couple of the easier options below.
Subway
There is a subway stop right in front of the museum at the corner of Central Park West and W 81st Street. This is going to be one of the easiest ways to get here.
We have created two articles to help those unfamiliar with the NYC subway.
As with most attractions in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History is most popular during the middle of the day from about 12:00 pm 3:00 pm .
If you want to avoid large crowds, consider coming either early in the morning at 10 am or later in the day after 3 pm.
Its also important to note that the museum is even busier than usual during weekends.
Make sure to visit during a weekday for the quietest experience.
If you decide to purchase your tickets on-site, you could end up waiting an hour or longer just to get inside the museum.
Purchasing tickets online or through another service can get you in much faster, saving you a lot of time.
Make sure to check both our tickets and discount sections for more details.
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Allison And Roberto Mignone Halls Of Gems And Minerals
The Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals houses thousands of rare gems, minerals specimens and pieces of jewelry. The halls closed in 2017 to undergo a $32 million redesign by Ralph Appelbaum Associates and reopened to the general public in June 2021. The redesigned exhibits adopt newer philosophies in exhibit design, including a focus on storytelling, interactivity, and connecting ideas across disciplines. The halls explore a range of topics, including the diversification of mineral species over the course of Earths history, plate tectonics, and the stories of specific gems.
The halls display rare samples chosen from among the more than 100,000 pieces in the museums collection including the Star of India, the Patricia Emerald, and the DeLong Star Ruby.
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Assorted faceted and polished minerals
Museum Of Natural History Nyc Free
Free on Fridays from 6 pm-9 pm.
This is the oldest museum in NYC and its mission is to help visitors learn about the citys rich past. Their collection of artifacts and objects some as old as four centuries is impressive.
Included for free anytime with any multi-day bus ticket from TopView Tours.
Free on Wednesdays from 2 pm-6 pm.
Free on the first Friday of each month 6 pm-9 pm .
Opened in 1935 and housed in one of the few remaining gilded age mansions and formerly owned by Henry Clay Frick.
This museums atmosphere is as beautiful as its artwork by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Whistler.
Free on Fridays from 7 pm-9 pm.
This library consists of J.Pierpont Morgans exquisite collection of rare books and manuscripts, drawings, and artifacts.
It is housed in one of the finest examples of Neoclassical buildings in America.
Free on Wednesdays. Note that some rides and exhibits require separate tickets.
This is the worlds largest metropolitan zoo and is home to over 6,000 animals.
Visit the Monkey House, Jungle World, the World of Darkness, and the Congo Gorilla Forest.
TIP: Why not visit nearby famous Arthur Avenue, the other Little Italy. Our guide to Arthur Avenue steers you to the best food in the area.
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Bank Of America Customers And Employees
On the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday of each month, customers and employees of Bank of America receive one free admission at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. Simply present your valid Bank of America credit card, debit card, or proof of employment along with a photo ID. Learn more about the Museums on Us program.
Tours For Blind Or Partially Sighted Visitors
Visitors who are blind or partially sighted are invited to attend this program, held monthly in the halls of the American Museum of Natural History. Specially trained Museum tour guides highlight specific themes and exhibits, engaging participants through extensive verbal descriptions and touchable objects. Science Sense tours are available to individuals or groups.
Registration required unfortunately, no walk-ins are accepted. Email or call to register.
Free for Members or with Museum admission. Programs subject to change. Please note: two weeks advance notice is required to request a Science Sense tour on a date that is not scheduled below.
Upcoming tours: TBA
Please note, as of March 11, all tours have been suspended. Read more about during the COVID-19 virus.
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How To Get The Most Out Of A Visit To Nycs Natural History Museum
Would you go to Disney World and experience everything in just one day? Imagine trying to do that at the gold standard of natural history museums, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I grew up exploring every dusty corner of this museum. While its recent makeovers have made the museum sparkle, its immense size is no less imposing. Read how you can see the highlights of one of Manhattans top cultural institutions in a one day.
Before we get to the top things to see at the American Museum of Natural History, check out what is new. In May 2022, Northwest Coast Hall reopened. This is one of the first exhibition halls at the museum. New exhibits were developed with Indigenous communities from the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Northwest Coast Hall is reimagined for the 21st century, with the 63-foot-long Great Canoe moved into the hall and over 1,000 cultural treasures. There are historic artifacts, works by contemporary Native American artists and exhibition text that helps visitors understand the context of the artwork. Be sure to check out the short video at the entrance.
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Best Times To Go The Natural History Museum
Get to the museum at 4 p.m. You have an hour and forty-five minutes to see as much as possible. The crowds who arrived between 10 and noon are streaming out of the museum while you dont have to wait online, or jostle to see the dinos or meteorites. You also cant see the Discovery Room, but you can have a quick, focused visit. And you dont have to stop for a snack.
Weekdays, the best time to visit is 2 p.m. School groups come in the mornings, and if they stay after lunch, they have to leave by 2 for 3 p.m. dismissal. This gives you several hours to explore the relatively quiet museum.
TravelingMom Tip: Check the NYC public school calendar. Camps take over the museum when schools are out, and local families also crowd the exhibits.
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