The American Museum of Natural History is a great museum for kids and adults alike. With 4 floors (not counting the lower level) open for the public and over 45 halls, the museum has everything you would need for a whole day of fun and, yes, education. Special exhibits are constantly changing, bringing something new and exciting to every visit. A cafeteria and two cafes ensure that you can spend an entire day there. There are gift shops and even a special Discovery Room for the kids. Due to all these things, the museum is often crowded. More often still, visitors enter the museum knowing nothing about the prices, or how much time they should allot to the visit. There are a few ways to save money and time at the museum and I will do my best to explain them all.
Before you can enter the museum, you do need to purchase a ticket. Sometimes the lines get impossibly long. To avoid these lines, visit the museum on weekdays, and avoid holidays — they are the busiest days for the museum. Even the weekdays can get busy at times depending on the weather (when the weather is bad, people flock to the museum for shelter). I recommend entering through the Planetarium entrance on the side of the museum between 11 and 1. That way in is not used as commonly as the subway entrance and the main steps. After 1 PM the main entrance sometimes begins sending people to this entrance, so beware of sudden surges of visitors.
The museum requires a donation to enter. Natural History museums are generally under funded, and because of that, the suggested general admission fee is high – $15 per adult, $11 per student or senior, $8.50 per child. However, this is only a suggestion. You can pay whatever you want or can afford — yes, even a quarter or a dollar is sufficient. If your budget can afford it, though, it’s nice to support the museum by paying the full suggested donation — but you will not be looked down on for paying less!
If you’re seeing any special exhibits, the fee is not a suggested one. If you are interested in more than one exhibit, get the supersaver: for $30 (for an adult), you can visit as many of the exhibits as you want (but they do need a timed entrance ticket, so don’t try this too late in the day!)
Last but not least, if you plan on coming back at least one or two more times in the near future, get a membership. Members get general admission, as well as any temporary, non-live exhibits such as Mythic Creatures and Gold — free. Membership also offers a 50% discount on all other exhibits (generally) and discounts at special events, the gift shops, and the food courts. Best of all, membership ensures a quick entry into the museum as they rarely have any lines at all. Make your visit to the American Museum of Natural History enjoyable and affordable. Follow these tips and you’re guaranteed to be well prepared and stay within your time and budget for a great trip.
