The sprawling grounds of the American Museum of Natural History, located off the east side of Central Park, is definitely one of the must-see attractions in New York City. The 25-building complex houses gems such as complete mammoth and Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, a life-size model of a whale, a 31-ton meteorite and projections of American nature.

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the largest and most respected institutions of its kind in the world, and is involved in many research projects around the globe.

What to see and the museum's collections

The AMNH, as the museum is often called, contains collections of more than 32 million artifacts, and the permanent exhibitions are spread across 46 rooms covering virtually the entire natural history of planet Earth. What are the museum's biggest draws and what's not to be missed?

Dioramata

The New York Museum of Natural History is famous for its giant dioramas spread across several halls. Some of the most famous include a 29-metre-long model of a giant whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life or elaborate scenes of African mammals that go into incredible detail.

Dinosaur Halls

The most visited part of the museum is definitely the 4th floor fossil section. It is here that the huge real dinosaur skeletons are found, in several different halls ranging in size from 7 to 20 meters. The following exhibits are of particular interest:

Tyrannosaurus rex
Apatosaurus - the largest dinosaur skeleton over 25 metres in the museum
Mammoth
Brontops
and many others

Rose Center for Earth and Space

One of the most important and also most modern parts of the museum is the Rose Space Center. Since 1933, it has been the site of the Hayden Planetarium, which was rebuilt in 2000 into a large complex dedicated to space and the formation of the Earth.

The building itself is fascinating, consisting of a six-storey cube containing a 27-metre sphere that gives the impression of floating.

Admission and opening hours

For a long time, admission was voluntary, but as of 2018, there is a standard admission fee.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults - 28 usd
Seniors over 65 - 22 usd
Students with a valid ISIC card - 22 usd
Under 12 - Free

Tickets can be purchased online on the official website to speed up the queue.

The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00-17:30. It remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Official website: amnh.org

How to get to the AMNH?

The "81 St - Museum of Natural History" subway station of the blue line A and C and the orange line B is near the museum.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is on the other side of Central Park, the M79-SBS bus runs from the E 79 St/5 Av. (MET) stop to the Columbus Av/w 80 St (AMoNH) stop.