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Natural History Museums in New York City

THE BEST New York City Natural History Museums

Natural History Museums in New York City

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  • CarolynNYC
    New York City, NY115 contributions
    New and Improved Museum!
    The Gilder center just opened and has made visiting this museum a lot easier and more fun. Plus, the online ticketing is a gift: if you’re a tri-state resident you can now, finally, enter your zip and do the “pay what you wish part” on the app instead of the previous clunker: get your timed admission but still have to wait inside in line to pay. Visitor? Ok, you’ll pay more for basic admission and a few bucks more for the butterfly exhibit, which you will enjoy, with or without kids. With kids, it’s a must must must see. Whatever, do it all on the museum app, get in quick (early in day is good, but even a recent crowded weekend was fun). Entering through the Columbus Ave Gilder entrance is fun, less people, has a sweet little park winding in front w benches—you can cobble together lunch from food trucks or even a cool green market if it’s there (Sundays, maybe other days as well). Gilder is a huge sculptural addition that makes access to the Gem and Mineral room easy (and it’s dazzling, definitely go right in). There are many fun, family friendly exhibits in the Glider center itself, from the aforementioned butterflies on the 2nd floor (timed admissions), to ant watching on the first floor and much more. I suggest you focus on Gilder/Gems and then scoot up to 4th floor DINOSAURS, the gems of the museum. Everyone loves the naked, hairy little Neanderthals, but like a lot of the old museum, they look taxidermied (it was, after all, Teddy Roosevelt and his shoot ‘em up peers shootin’ ‘em up and bringing ‘em back to end up in dusty dioramas. And Teddy….that’s a whole nother story, as they say, but one can appreciate that he and his family started this wonderful museum and it’s a true treasure).
    Review of: American Museum of Natural History
    Written December 1, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • robcurtross
    New York City, NY14,583 contributions
    Ground floor of the Rose Center
    I spent an hour today exploring the hall of the universe, which has four different zones.

    The Universe Zone described the continuing expansion of the universe. The Galaxies Zone described the great beauty of many galaxies. The Stars Zone traced the life and death of stars. The Planets Zone described planets and many collisions that have occurred.

    There were amazing images of astronomy and the 15.5-ton Willamette Meteorite, and media displays that highlight topics in astronomy and astrophysics.

    I especially enjoyed the 13.5-foot-wide Astro Bulletin screen showing new discoveries.

    I enjoyed this hall
    every time I come by, and today was no exception.
    Review of: Hall of the Universe
    Written June 4, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • 4alexnyc
    New York City, NY1,101 contributions
    Great news addition!
    While there's so many great things to see in the new wing, my two favorites were the butterfly exhibit and ant colony. The butterfly exhibit is a fully immersive experience and you really get close! The ant farm is a really interesting way to see the full lifecycle of the leaf cutter ant from cutting leaves, transporting through precarious routes and views of inside the colony. Great stuff and worth a visit!
    Review of: Richard Gilder Center For Science, Education, And Innovation
    Written August 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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