Hotels near American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest of its kind, a sprawling complex on the edge of Central Park best known for its towering dinosaur halls and the blue whale suspended over the Hall of Ocean Life. Its fossil collection is world-class, and the newer Gilder Center adds a soaring, cave-like atrium.

The attached Rose Center for Earth and Space, with its glowing Hayden Planetarium sphere, runs immersive space shows, and the dioramas of African and North American mammals remain beautifully crafted time capsules. It is a sure-fire hit with children and the setting for the film Night at the Museum.

Pro Tip: Buy a timed general-admission ticket online and add the planetarium space show separately if you want it. Enter from Central Park West rather than the busier subway entrance, and start with the top-floor dinosaurs before the school groups arrive.