American Museum of Natural History

Museum of Natural History - New Hayden Planetarium is Awesome

The American Museum of Natural History is in one word – enormous.  From the building itself, to the list of exhibits to see, the life topics you can explore, and the actual dinosaurs, whales and other monstrously sized animal displays, it’s all grand in size.   This was not my first time visiting the Natural History museum, but as a kid, I remember it being my favorite museum, so I was stoked to re-visit as an adult.

I went with a friend who lives in the City who hadn’t been in awhile, and we decided to purchase a ticket for museum admission plus one video exhibit.  There were a few choices for the extra feature options- there were exhibits about frogs, dinosaurs, butterflies and our choice – outer space! 

I definitely recommend seeing the Journey to the Stars exhibit if you have the chance. I entered the brand-new Hayden Planetarium for the Space Show (which plays every 30 minutes) and was excited to learn it would be narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.  I’ve always been a fan of planetariums and hadn’t been inside one in years – it was awesome!

Complete with the circular dome movie screen and comfy leaned-back chairs, the Hayden Planetarium set-up was tops. The video itself was super engaging, but also explained very complex sciences of space in simple ways that all ages can learn something from.  You feel as if you’re exploring through space as you’re learning about its effects on our daily lives, the past historical times, and the future of the earth and other planets.  I give Journey to the Stars, 5 stars, and I’d be willing to bet all of the other exhibits are quite stimulating as well.

The rest of the museum is bursting with historical information of life on Earth – from pre-historic dinosaur fossils (my favorite outside of the planetarium), evolutionary time-lines and exhibits of animals and peoples from all parts of the world, at periodical points in history.  It’s near impossible to see everything this museum has to offer in one day, but the ticket prices make it worth a return trip if you want to come back and see the rest another day.  Admissions to this museum are actually donation-based, so technically you can go for free.

This is a great place to go with kids, with friends, and it would be enjoyable alone, too, which not all attractions are. You can seek out the exhibits you’re most interested in, opt  for a guided tour if you’re unsure, or just roam around – you’re bound to learn a lot and enjoy doing it. It's right across from Central Park, so it's in a great location to make a day of Uptown Manhattan.

This review was made by the www.nyctourist.com site editor based on personal experience. NYCTourist was not paid for this review, nor will we receive any future compensation for posting this review on our site.

Museum of Natural History - New Hayden Planetarium is Awesome

The American Museum of Natural History is in one word – enormous.  From the building itself, to the list of exhibits to see, the life topics you can explore, and the actual dinosaurs, whales and other monstrously sized animal displays, it’s all grand in size.   This was not my first time visiting the Natural History museum, but as a kid, I remember it being my favorite museum, so I was stoked to re-visit as an adult.

I went with a friend who lives in the City who hadn’t been in awhile, and we decided to purchase a ticket for museum admission plus one video exhibit.  There were a few choices for the extra feature options- there were exhibits about frogs, dinosaurs, butterflies and our choice – outer space! 

I definitely recommend seeing the Journey to the Stars exhibit if you have the chance. I entered the brand-new Hayden Planetarium for the Space Show (which plays every 30 minutes) and was excited to learn it would be narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.  I’ve always been a fan of planetariums and hadn’t been inside one in years – it was awesome!

Complete with the circular dome movie screen and comfy leaned-back chairs, the Hayden Planetarium set-up was tops. The video itself was super engaging, but also explained very complex sciences of space in simple ways that all ages can learn something from.  You feel as if you’re exploring through space as you’re learning about its effects on our daily lives, the past historical times, and the future of the earth and other planets.  I give Journey to the Stars, 5 stars, and I’d be willing to bet all of the other exhibits are quite stimulating as well.

The rest of the museum is bursting with historical information of life on Earth – from pre-historic dinosaur fossils (my favorite outside of the planetarium), evolutionary time-lines and exhibits of animals and peoples from all parts of the world, at periodical points in history.  It’s near impossible to see everything this museum has to offer in one day, but the ticket prices make it worth a return trip if you want to come back and see the rest another day.  Admissions to this museum are actually donation-based, so technically you can go for free.

This is a great place to go with kids, with friends, and it would be enjoyable alone, too, which not all attractions are. You can seek out the exhibits you’re most interested in, opt  for a guided tour if you’re unsure, or just roam around – you’re bound to learn a lot and enjoy doing it. It's right across from Central Park, so it's in a great location to make a day of Uptown Manhattan.

This review was made by the www.nyctourist.com site editor based on personal experience. NYCTourist was not paid for this review, but we may receive compensation for placement of this travel provider advertisements on our site.

Check Out the Planetarium at the Natural History Museum

No matter how much knowledge you have about natural history, you will still gain a lot from visiting the American Museum of Natural History.  In addition to the artifacts the museum displays all the time, the museum also hosts many exhibits.  The recently added Planetarium is worth a visit in and of itself.  You'll get to experience being in space and seeing how a star is formed, as you look up at the incredible display.

This review is provided by an NYCTourist staff member and is a composite of actual reviews. This may be a paid advertiser.

Definitely Worth a Visit - Natural History Museum

Whether you're traveling in NYC by yourself or with a group, the American Museum of Natural History is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys history or dinosaurs.  In addition to the fun dinosaur exhibits that will delight people of all ages, you'll likely get to see the interesting temporary exhibits as well.  Even if you don't think of yourself as a "museum person," you will probably end up spending a lot of time wandering around this museum.

Since the museum has such an incredible location, you'll be able to take a stroll around Central Park after you take in all the fun information the Natural History Museum has to offer.  Heading to the museum then walking around the park seems like a pretty relaxing day in New York City.

This review is provided by an NYCTourist staff member and is a composite of actual reviews. This may be a paid advertiser.