You are about to meet the world's largest and most important natural history museum: the American Museum of Natural History. A museum housing 36 million pieces and specimens, including an impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons.
When you walk through the door and get into the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda lobby, named after the former President of the United States and one of the founders of the museum, you will be welcomed by one of the rarest fossils in the world: a giant Barosaurus reaching out to protect her offspring from an attack by another dinosaur. This fascinating animal lived about 140 million years ago and, even today, one single vertebra in its skeleton can weigh up to 90 kg.
This is just a taste of what you may discover in this impressive museum on 4 floors, divided into 42 rooms. A huge museum, which offers much more than you can see in a day. Therefore, we recommend you previously plan a route, while skipping some of the rooms.
What you should not miss by no means is the sector dedicated to the evolution of vertebrates, which houses the largest collection of dinosaurs in the world. It is located on the fourth floor and fills 6 rooms in a total, whereas the collection includes more than 600 samples, 85% of which are authentic.
Furthermore, do not miss the blue 29-metre-long whale you can find on the second floor, presiding over the Hall of Ocean Life and the bar, and the two wonders of the Hall of Meteorites, Minerals and Gems: a blue 563-carat sapphire and a giant 34-ton meteorite.
During your itinerary, you may discover some rooms that may look familiar to you. This is because the American Museum of Natural History has been the setting of famous movies and series. For instance, Night at the Museum, Splash, Election, The Squid and the Whale and the mythical scene of Friends were shot here, where Ross and Rachel consummate their relationship.
Founded in 1877, the museum has continued to grow steadily both in size and in number of items, and in February 2000 it was enriched by the Rose Centre for Earth and Space. A striking glass and steel building, which is accessed from the first floor of the museum or from 81st Street.
Within this extraordinary glass structure, a vast sphere of 30 metres in diameter seems to be suspended in the air. It represents the sun and hides inside a universe that will thrill lovers of space and science. On the first floor, there is a planetarium based on advanced technology, which will bring you closer to the stars through an unforgettable and unique experience. In the lower half, a large amphitheatre, where a fascinating representation of the Big Bang is projected.
One final note: if you want to end the visit with a musical touch on a Friday afternoon, you are lucky. On that day, the Rose Centre becomes a restaurant, where you can combine a soft drink or an appetising dinner with live jazz music.
As you can see, the museum brings together the past and the future in a fascinating sight that delights all ages.
