16 Dec Holiday Season at the American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is open for the holiday season and welcoming families with updated hours and several exhibitions worth planning around.

Families visiting between Christmas and New Year can take advantage of earlier entry. From Saturday, December 27, through Monday, December 29, the museum opens at 9am, which can help avoid peak crowds and make navigating the galleries easier for younger visitors.

A key seasonal feature is the museum’s Origami Holiday Tree, a 13-foot artificial tree covered in thousands of hand-folded paper models contributed by artists from around the world. It is located on Floor 1 in the Futter Gallery, making it an easy stop early in your visit.

Families interested in dinosaurs will also find two major stops to add to their route. Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs explains the asteroid event that ended the era of the dinosaurs, presenting the science behind one of Earth’s major extinction events. On Floor 4, visitors can see Apex, a 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus fossil now on view. Apex offers a detailed look at the species’ structure and is part of the museum’s expanded fossil displays.

The Hayden Planetarium is currently showing Encounters in the Milky Way, the museum’s newest space show, narrated by Pedro Pascal. The show is included with museum admission. Families looking for interactive learning opportunities can also visit the Discovery Room, which is open for timed sessions on select days.

Whether you’re planning a full museum day or stopping in to see a specific exhibition, visiting during the holiday season offers plenty for families to explore at a comfortable pace. With extended morning hours on specific dates and a mix of seasonal and permanent exhibits, the Museum provides an easy and engaging option for a winter outing in NYC.

American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024-5102

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