American Museum of Natural History: NYC Admission & Rose Center

Walking past the blue whale and into 40 galleries of Earth's history

You get timed entry to over 40 permanent galleries plus the Rose Center for Earth and Space, with the option to add one special exhibit like the Butterfly Vivarium or Hayden Planetarium Space Show. Move through at your own pace, no guide required, and if you're a New York resident, you set the admission price yourself. Arrive during your chosen time window and explore as long as you want.

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to explore the museum's permanent collections at your own pace without a guide or group schedule — timed entry means you choose when to arrive, and you can spend as long as you want in each gallery.

What’s included

• Your ticket includes timed entry to all permanent exhibitions across 40+ galleries, admission to the Rose Center for Earth and Space, access to the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education & Innovation, a paper map at the entrance, and onsite Wi-Fi.
• If you choose General Admission Plus One, you also get timed entry to one special exhibit such as the Butterfly Vivarium, Invisible Worlds, Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show narrated by Pedro Pascal.
• Children under 3 qualify for waived admission.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore American Museum of Natural History

• Enter American Museum of Natural History
• Visit over 40 permanent exhibition halls
• Explore the Rose Center for Earth and Space
• Discover the Richard Gilder Center for Science and Innovation

The Experience

You're standing in front of the entrance on the Upper West Side, ticket in hand, and the doors open onto a hall where a 94-foot blue whale hangs from the ceiling. That's the American Museum of Natural History, and it's the kind of place where you can spend a full day and still not see everything. General admission gets you into more than 40 permanent exhibition halls — dinosaur skeletons, meteorites, human evolution, ocean life, all of it under one roof. The Rose Center for Earth and Space is included, so you're not paying extra to see the planetarium or the cosmic displays. If you want one ticketed exhibition on top of that — the Butterfly Vivarium, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show narrated by Pedro Pascal, or whichever special exhibit is running — you can add it when you book.

The museum sits on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, accessible by subway, and the layout is straightforward enough that you don't need a guide to move through it. You get a paper map at the entrance, and the staff at information desks can point you toward whatever you're most interested in. Families with young kids find it manageable — strollers are fine, and children under 3 get in free. Wheelchair access is built in throughout, and Wi-Fi is available if you need to look something up or share a photo. The permanent collections are the real draw: you're not waiting for a guide to start, and you're not on anyone else's schedule. You move at your own pace, spend twenty minutes with the dinosaurs or two hours, and come back to the same exhibit if something caught your eye the first time.

New York residents get a special deal — you pay what you think is fair for general admission, which shifts the whole economics of a rainy afternoon or a weekend with visiting family. For everyone else, the ticket price is fixed, and timed entry means you choose the hour instead of showing up and joining a line. One ticketed exhibition can be added at booking, so if the Butterfly Vivarium or the space show is what drew you in, you lock that in before you arrive. The Richard Gilder Center opened a few years back and is included with admission, so the museum itself keeps changing — new galleries, new installations, things that weren't there last time.

Top questions

What's included in general admission?

Access to 40+ permanent exhibition halls, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education & Innovation, and Wi-Fi. Ticketed exhibitions like the Butterfly Vivarium and Hayden Planetarium Space Show are separate.

Can I add a special exhibit to my ticket?

Yes. The General Admission Plus One option includes one ticketed exhibition of your choice, such as Invisible Worlds, Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs, the Butterfly Vivarium, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show.

Do I need to book a specific time?

Timed entry is required, so you choose your arrival hour when you book. This helps manage crowds and means you don't wait in line at the entrance.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and strollers are allowed throughout.

What if I'm a New York resident?

Residents pay what they choose for general admission — the amount is up to you. This applies to permanent exhibitions only, not ticketed special exhibits.

Are there discounts for children?

Children under 3 get free admission. Strollers and prams are welcome for younger kids.

How do I get there?

The museum is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Public transportation options are available nearby, and it's accessible by subway.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed throughout the museum.