Is the American Museum of Natural History free? Museums throughout the US have different pricing setups, with some offering free entry at certain times. The American Museum of Natural History stands out as one of the top museums in New York and is highly popular nationwide.
Since its establishment in 1869, it has consistently ranked among the best science museums globally. You might recognize it from the famous movie “Night at the Museum,” starring Ben Stiller. Though its collection does not magically come to life at night like in the film, it is still a fantastic place to explore. The American Museum of Natural History has different ticket prices, which we will explain in this article.
Is The American Museum Of Natural History Free?
The American Museum of Natural History isn’t free like the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. But if you have little money, there are some ways to visit the museum without spending much. This museum is located in New York City.
The American Museum of Natural History generally offers discounts for students, tourists, seniors, and military personnel, and it has a program called “Pay What You Wish.” However, the only free way to get into the museum is if you’re invited by a top-tier member who allows them to give out tickets. The museum used to have free admission days, but those last happened in early 2020. Parking isn’t free either, so you have to pay for it separately.
What Is The Ticket Price At The American Museum Of Natural History?
The American Museum of Natural History contains a suggested price for admission, but that’s only for people from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. It’s wise to buy the museum tickets ahead of time to avoid waiting in line, especially during busy times when it can take an hour or more. When you buy tickets, you gotta pick a specific date and time to visit—it’s called “timed entry.” Here are the prices for regular admission:
- Adults: $28
- Seniors (Ages 60+): $22
- Students (with ID): $22
- Children (Ages 3-12): $16
- Children ages 2 and under are free
First responders and military personnel might get extra discounts. When you get to the American Museum of Natural History, ask the cashier about any deals available before you purchase your tickets. People living in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey can also get discounts. Here are the ticket prices for people from these states:
- Resident Adults: $25
- Resident Seniors (Ages over 60): $20
- Resident Students (with ID): $20
- Resident Children (Ages between 3 and 12): $14
The general ticket gets you access to every 45 museum halls, along with the Gilder Center and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. But if you want to check out any special exhibits, you’ll have to pay extra. They offer different ticket options for those add-ons. These options are:
General Admission with One Add-on
- Adults: $34
- Students (with ID): $27
- Senior (Ages over 60): $27
- Children (Ages 3-12): $20
- Children ages 2 and under are free
General Admission with All Add-ons
- Adults: $39
- Senior (Ages more than 60): $31
- Students (with ID): $31
- Children (Ages between 3 and 12): $24
- Children ages 2 and under are free
Resident Pricing with One Add-on
- Resident Adults: $30
- Resident Seniors (Ages 60+): $24
- Resident Students (with ID): $24
- Resident Children (Ages 3-12): $17
Resident Pricing with All Add-ons
- Resident Adults: $35
- Resident Students (with ID): $28
- Resident Senior (Ages over 60): $28
- Resident Children (Ages between 3 and 12): $20
There is almost always a way for you to visit the American Museum of Natural History, no matter what you can afford.
What Does The Pay What You Wish Program Mean?
The American Museum of Natural History has a unique program for charging for admission called “Pay What You Wish.” Thanks to the museum’s suggested price, residents of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey who show their ID can pay only $1 for general admission.
Some people even call it free admission since you can technically enter the museum without paying anything. When you walk into the museum, you will see various signs with prices, but if you look closely, they say “Suggested Price.” It can be confusing at first sight if you are used to paying a set price for everything in your regular life.
With “Pay What You Wish,” you can decide the amount you want to pay for your museum entry, whether it’s less or more than the suggested price. When you buy tickets at the museum in person, they’ll automatically charge you the suggested price unless you tell the cashier your preferred amount. Just remember, they won’t ask you how much you want to pay. When you buy tickets online, you will need to pay the suggested price. In the final steps of online checkout, you’ll see the suggested admission price and a box where you can enter a different amount if you want.
The same rules apply when you buy tickets in person—you may pay as much or as little as you would like. Visiting the American Museum of Natural History is a vast experience that can take 3-5 hours or even a whole day to enjoy for some people. Though we suggest paying the suggested price, it’s a good idea to check out any senior, student, or military discounts available at the museum. When you buy tickets, ask about discounts available for everyone in your group.
The “Pay What You Wish” program offers excellent value for the American Museum of Natural History, considering the time you will spend there and the quality of the experiences and exhibits you’ll enjoy.
How Can You Use A Tourist Pass To Visit The American Museum Of Natural History?
If you’re planning a trip to New York, consider getting a New York City Tourist Pass. These cards offer a flat rate to go to the city’s popular attractions. With these tourist passes, you save time and money because they offer better deals than buying individual tickets.
Using a tourist pass lets you avoid the ticket lines at the American Museum of Natural History. These passes usually include multiple tours and attractions for one price, saving you anywhere from 15% to 50%, depending on the tourist card. It’s an intelligent way to make the most of your visit and see more while spending less.
The New York tourist passes that give you access to the American Museum of Natural History are given below:
- New York Pass
- New York Sightseeing Pass
- New York CityPass
- New York Explorer Pass
With a tourist pass, you can go to some of the top attractions without paying extra. These places are:
- Madame Tussauds
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met)
- New York Botanical Garden
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Empire State Building
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum
- The Intrepid Museum
- Museum of Modern Art
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- Guggenheim Museum
- And more!
Offers For Military Officers In The American Museum Of Natural History
Every active-duty member of the United States Military can visit the American Museum of Natural History for free. However, it’s a good idea to double-check with the museum because this policy may not be officially posted.
Moreover, the museum is a Blue Star Museum. This means that during the summer, every active-duty member of the U.S. military and their families can also get in for free. Active-duty military members with a military ID can enjoy this program along with up to five family members.
Why Should You Visit The American Museum Of Natural History?
- With the addition of multimedia technologies, you can now immerse yourself in the American Museum of Natural History’s incredible 3D views of the world.
- The American Museum of Natural History is using the latest advancements in robotics to give visitors an extraordinary experience. You can explore the vast underwater world and observe the fauna and flora very closely.
- A museum wouldn’t be complete without fossils. The American Museum of Natural History has a vast collection of fossils. It takes great care to ensure that the millions of visitors who visit there are satisfied, especially those who want to see dinosaur fossils and other ancient creatures. Some of these fossils even have skin remains that were found with them.
- The American Museum of Natural History is among the world’s largest museums. It’s renowned for its comprehensive representation of American history, featuring recreated sets, original artifacts, and replica pieces showcasing prominent historical structures and figures.
- The American Museum of Natural History will do a collaboration with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, which aims to explore the mysterious 95% of our universe that humans have yet to fully understand. Through this collaboration, visitors will learn about dark energy and dark matter, which remain beyond our complete comprehension.
Final Words
Is the American Museum of Natural History free? No, this museum isn’t free and you have to pay some amount for admission. The museum offers you a unique perspective on nature and science through its diverse programs.
The American Museum of Natural History is the best tourist place to summarize all human knowledge in one place. That is why almost 5 million people go to the museum each year. You should check it out, too. New York has plenty of cool things to keep you entertained, and the American Museum of Natural History is definitely one of them.
