As a lifelong lover of history, the American Museum of Natural History is an absolute must-see when visiting New York City (as well as for native New Yorkers!). For many history enthusiasts and movie fans alike, Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum films have only added to the magic, inspiring visitors to see beloved characters in real life, from Rex the T. rex fossil and the gum-loving Easter Island head to the dioramas of past civilizations, where you might find yourself searching for Jedidiah and Octavius.
Founded in 1869, the museum is one of the largest and most celebrated natural history museums in the world, renowned for its scientific research and world-class collections. It welcomes millions of visitors each year who come to explore its more than 40 exhibition halls, including the iconic Hayden Planetarium and Rose Center for Earth and Space.
Across the four expansive floors, each room houses extraordinary features, from towering dinosaur fossils and ancient civilizations to the mysteries of the cosmos and the hidden microscopic world that surrounds us every day.
Buddhism in Southeast Asia exhibit within the Gardner D. Stout Hall of Asian Peoples – Photo by Sabrina Little
Most exhibits are included with admission, but some additional features require a ticket or membership. You’ll want to see those, as they are part of what makes a visit memorable and worthwhile. The premium exhibits are worth the price of admission. If you get a chance, check out the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium or Invisible Worlds: An Immersive Experience!
The Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium: A Living Rainforest
The Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, one of the newest additions to the museum on the second floor of the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, features a tropical environment that allows visitors to experience summer year-round. Inside the Vivarium, dozens of butterflies fly freely around you, creating a fantastic scene of movement and color. The Vivarium is home to up to 80 species of butterflies, selected from more than 130 that appear throughout the gallery, along with a special display of moths that includes the incredible Atlas Moth, one of the largest insects in the world.
Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly in the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium – Photo by Sabrina Little
The room is kept warm at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with high humidity to mimic a rainforest environment, so it is best to wear light clothing and be prepared to remove your jacket once inside. As you wander through, take your time observing the many species gliding through the air or resting on leaves and flowers, and stop by the pupae incubator to see chrysalises up close or catch a butterfly emerging for the first time.
Malachite butterfly in the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium – Photo by Sabrina Little
Interactive displays, such as a digital microscope and a daily updated ID board with illustrated cards, make it easy to identify the species you see in flight and learn more about their role in the ecosystem. Before leaving, check yourself and any loose clothing for a small hitchhiker, since a butterfly may decide to rest on you. If one does, it is considered an honor in many cultures, symbolizing transformation, good luck, or even a visit from a loved one watching over you.
Clipper butterfly in the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium – Photo by Sabrina Little
Invisible Worlds: An Immersive Experience
Mesmerizing exhibition Invisible Worlds: Immersive Experience is another must-see exhibit that explores the small intricacies of the world and life in general that bring us all together, proving that we are all connected in one way or another. Located on the third floor of the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, this twelve-minute looping experience is housed in the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Gallery, which lets you step in at any time.
Invisible Worlds exhibit – Photo by Iwan Baan on amnh.org
Walk down the hallway and learn about the different stages of how we are all connected with fun, interactive testing or games to show what you have learned at each step of the way. At the end, you will find yourself in a room made entirely of interactive screens that makes you feel like you are in your own bubble of learning. The projections respond to your movements, allowing you to become part of the story rather than just an observer.
Watch as a massive whale swims all the way around you, roots grow deep into the ground and drink up water from the Earth, and networks of neurons and ecosystems move together at different speeds, from ultra-fast to ultra-slow. You will want to sit down to watch and enjoy the show all around you, but the floor is also interactive with what’s happening on screen. You will find that particles follow behind you with every step, puddles of water appear beneath your feet to feed growing roots, and flocks of birds fly in large groups that shift around your movements. You can even travel through a rainforest from the soil to the canopy, dive into the ocean among jellyfish and plankton, or soar above cityscapes that represent satellite and urban connectivity.
Invisible Worlds is a stunning visual and sensory experience that leaves you with a deeper understanding of how everything on our planet, from the smallest cell to the largest ecosystem, is connected.
Interactive learning map kiosk – Photo by Sabrina Little
Plan Your Visit
Be sure to grab a map when you enter so you can make the most of your visit and find your favorite exhibits with ease. Plan to spend at least a few hours, if not the whole day, exploring each floor and taking time to experience all the museum fully has to offer. Within each floor of the building, there is a gift shop for you to take home a memento from your favorite exhibit on that level. All proceeds from the shops help support the museum and its ongoing research and conservation initiatives. Be it insects, dinosaurs, historic cultures, or the fantastic new exhibits, you will return home inspired and ready to plan your next visit!