American Museum of Natural History

TorzJohnson

TorzJohnson

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Aug 4, 2001
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It's in NYC on 79th and Central Park West. I've taken the kids there several times over the years but my youngest had never been, so we went on Friday. I took a beating on the parking fees but if you're staying in the city you can take a subway right to it.

There is just too much stuff there to see in one day, you end up skimming over portions because there are 4 floors of amazing exhibits and most people get worn out after 3 or 4 hours of walking. If any of our non-US forumites are planning a visit to the states, you should add this to your itinerary. Of course, NYC has a plethora of other things to see and do, but this should definitely be one of them.

One thing I noticed was that I expected the hall of minerals to be boring to kids, but every time I've taken them, the youngest ones always run excitedly from rock to rock, just touching them. The hall of sea creatures is fascinating, with a life sized blue whale replica hanging over the whole place. The hall of African animals features some world record elephant tusks that pretty impressive. And of course, the famous Brachiosaurus and T. Rex skeletons are always worth seeing.

On one of my previous visits there were some beautifully done bronze sculptures by the famous explorer/taxidermist/photographer/writer/sculptor who created the hall of African Animals. I didn't see them this time, but maybe I just missed them due to the huge size and incredible abundance of exhibits the place has. If you get the chance to go there, don't miss it!

Check it out.
 
One of my hangouts as a kid.In those days things like the 'rocks ' were kind of boring ,just rock after rock. But then they started changing museums and exhibits became much more educational. They have recently made improvements at least in the dinosaur section.Highly recommended....NYC has at least 100 museums. Since this is the bladeforum I would also recommend the Metropolitan Museum of Art which has a fantastic collection of arms and armor.
 
Did they have the metal detector working or no? :confused:
 
Both Natural History and Metropolitan Art are so big that a day apiece is hardly enough to figure out where everything is. But they are opposite each other, History on the west side and Art on the east side of Central Park. If you're in the City for a while, it's a fifteen minute walk from one to the other.

Don't miss the planetarium at Natural History! Since walking all over the museum can get confusing, even though there are maps on the walls, make sure you pick up a folding map to carry with you. I know my way around better than most employees, but even I have to stop and reorient myself sometimes. :)

Best bet for wandering: get an elevator up to the 4th floor to start. Follow the fossils all around from early vertebrates through the dinosaurs through mammals, then walk downstairs for more exhibits.

Do not eat in the cafeterias at either museum. The same outfit runs both and they are overpriced mostly underwhelming food and uncomfortable seating. On the east side, one block over is Madison Avenue with some nice little restaurants and on the west side, Columbus Avenue behind the museum is also well-supplied with good food places.

(I am not really shilling for old eating places, but if you go up 2 blocks from Natural History, you can see the post office I used to run! :D)
 
Ken, the metal detectors are off in a side corridor, collecting dust. They did ask for quick look through backpacks, but they were just interested in the main compartment (BOMBS !!! :eek: ), not the sidepockets.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Ken, the metal detectors are off in a side corridor, collecting dust. They did ask for quick look through backpacks, but they were just interested in the main compartment (BOMBS !!! :eek: ), not the sidepockets.
Click to expand...

That's right - I left my edc in the car for nuthin'. And, everybody take Esav's recommendations about the cafeterias. The food is awful and extremely overpriced.
 
From the Museum of Natural History, the Bronx Zoo, and Central Park, I probably could write a tour book. I spent so much time in Natural History after I retired that a clerk in the cafeteria once gave me the employee discount without asking to see my ID.

Many years ago, there was a lot of dissension when the Museum opened the Hall of Asian Peoples. Some people thought they should concentrate on the natural world. But the anthropology impacts the biology, so these halls have multiplied: African peoples, North American Indians, Mexican Indians, Polynesians. Fantastic exhibits. After all, the explorers who brought back the information and specimens of animals and plants had to interact with the peoples of those distant places, too.

Oh, I do dinosaur calls, too. :)
 
I love the place. I can still remember chasing Jack Klugman around the T-rex exhibit during the early 70s. I have probably spent at least a year of my life in that museum. It and the MET rank high among the classic top tier institutions.

n2s
 
We are planning to spend the Jewish New Year in NJ with the wife's family. We are taking additional time so that we can take our daughters aged 2 1/2 to the museum for the first time. It is a favorite stop of mine in NYC.

Of course, the girls aren't quite sure of where we are going, but I am so excited anticipating their reactions to the museum that they know that something is up.......

and thank you guys for the metal-detector info...
 
I was there once as a kid, my school took us there for a day trip.(from North Jersey)

Awesome, but I seemed to be the only one really interested among my friends.

edited to add: it was funny how they(my school) told us to wear old sneakers so the bad New Yorkers wouldn't rob us! Still makes me laugh. :D
 
My great grandfather, Major Junius J. W. MacMurray, First Artillery, US Army, had quite an extensive collection of Native American objects that he had amassed over his career in the Indian Wars Army after the War Between the States. His children donated that collection to the American Museum of Natural History and I understand that they now have it on computer disc to download for a price. I must do this one day.
 
not2sharp said:
I love the place. I can still remember chasing Jack Klugman around the T-rex exhibit during the early 70s.
Click to expand...

Lol, in the late 80's I got in the elevator there and this scruffy long haired guy and a couple of very, uh, entertaining-looking women got on with me. I got a better look and realized it was Slash from Gun's 'n Roses. :)
 
Excellent place to bring the family.
We went this past 4th of July weekend.
Until then I had never seen the Native American exhibits, they were great.


And for you TR fans...on the way out, by chance, I found Teddy Roosevelt's Tiffany Bowie.
Alot of other TR memoribilia as well.
The knife is on the lower level, just to the right/north of the entrance under the main stairs. There are small showcases in each corner of the room, the knife is in the NE corner.
Cool stuff!
 
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