Dinosaur Halls and the Blue Whale at the Natural History Museum

The American Museum of Natural History at 200 Central Park West puts both headline exhibits under one roof: the fossil halls on the dinosaur floors and the 94-foot blue whale suspended overhead. Doors open daily at 10 AM and close at 5:30 PM, and the building spans five levels covering human origins, ocean life, earth and planetary sciences and astrophysics, plus gemstone and mineral displays.

One visit covers the highlights rather than the whole collection. Give the fossils the first hour, walk through ocean life for the whale, then spend what is left of the day on one ticketed exhibition or the gemstone hall.

Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Hours: daily 10 AM–5:30 PM
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 27,229 reviews
Phone: (212) 769-5100
Scale: five levels
Headline exhibits: dinosaur fossil halls, a suspended 94-foot blue whale
Also inside: gemstone and mineral exhibits, human origins, ocean life, earth and planetary sciences, astrophysics
Ticketing: special exhibitions are ticketed separately

Give the fossil floors the first hour. The dinosaur halls are where most visits start, and the paleontological collection is deep enough to reward a slow walk rather than a photo stop. From there the route drops to ocean life for the 94-foot blue whale hanging overhead, then climbs through human origins, earth and planetary sciences and astrophysics. Gemstone and mineral displays sit in the same building, and the Gilder Center adds the light-filled newer wing.

Everything is open 10 AM to 5:30 PM, seven days a week, which leaves about seven usable hours. Five levels is more than one visit can cover properly: a first pass through the fossil halls, the whale and one special exhibition fills half a day, while a full day reaches two or three subject areas. Special exhibitions carry their own ticket, so decide before arriving whether one is part of the plan, and start early enough to give the fossils an hour on their own.

The Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium at 200 Central Park West is the same address and the same 10 AM–5:30 PM schedule, but it is a paid ticketed exhibit with up to 80 species of butterflies and moths, rated 4.6 from 15 reviews, kept noticeably warm and wheelchair accessible. The New-York Historical Society at 170 Central Park West runs 11 AM–5 PM, closed Monday, rated 4.5 from 798 reviews. Choose the museum for fossils and scale, the vivarium for a shorter close-up visit.

Where is the American Museum of Natural History?
200 Central Park West in Manhattan.

What are the hours?
Daily, 10 AM–5:30 PM.

What should I see first?
The dinosaur fossil halls, then ocean life for the 94-foot blue whale.

How long does a visit take?
Half a day covers the fossil halls, the whale and one special exhibition; a full day reaches two or three subject areas.

Do special exhibitions cost extra?
Yes, special exhibitions are ticketed separately from the general visit.

How is the museum rated?
4.6 out of 5 from 27,229 reviews.

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