Fodor's Expert Review American Museum of Natural History

With more than 40 exhibition halls and 34 million artifacts and specimens, the world's largest and most important museum of natural history can easily occupy you for more than a day. The dioramas might seem a bit dated but are still fun; dinosaur fossils and exhibits, including a massive T. rex, are highlights for many people, especially kids. A 94-foot model of a blue whale, another museum icon, is suspended from the ceiling in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. Attached to the museum is the Rose Center for Earth and Space featuring various exhibits, the Hayden Planetarium, a giant-screen theater, and the Worlds Beyond Earth space show, which takes you on a cosmic journey to the inner reaches of our solar system. Do your bling thing at the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, displaying giant geodes, giant diamonds and sapphires, and the Northwest Coast Hall, the museum's oldest gallery, just reopened in May 2022 after a major revitalization. At this time, the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Innovation, and Education is set to open in 2023 or 2024 with another 190,000 square feet of exhibit and learning space.

Residents of New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut pay "as you wish" admission; there are set admission prices for everyone else, and everyone pays extra for special exhibits and the Planetarium. Many family-friendly events, including storytelling and dance performances, are included with admission. Purchase timed entry tickets online to save time, and check the website for special programs, including sleepovers for kids.