Meeting the Moment with Innovation and Excellence

The American Museum of Natural History has been pursuing scientific discovery and sharing scientific evidence with the public since 1869.

Find out how the Museum is activating our collections, extending our work, and catalyzing our long-standing mission to meet the scale and urgency of today’s opportunities through our strategic plan.

Letter From the President

President Sean Decatur shares an ambitious strategic plan that is grounded in our mission, fueled by a commitment to excellence, and powered by a clear vision of a future in which the Museum will continue to set the standard as one of the world’s leading natural history museums.

Read the Letter »
Smiling portrait of Museum President Sean Decatur. Alvaro Keding/© AMNH

Digitize Scientific Collections

Extend the reach of 150 years of gathered scientific evidence to a global community of researchers and broader public

Digitization Efforts in Invertebrate Zoology Collections Boosted by New Imaging Systems With 20 million-plus specimens, the Invertebrate Zoology Division prioritizes holotypes, specimens that represent a species. Conserving, Reuniting, and Digitizing Elephant and Bovid Collections Preserving, digitizing, and reunifying two rare collections to enhance long-term care, research access, and global engagement.
Digitizing Minerals Collection Through Spectral Database Project with Wiley Robotic Imaging and AI Character Recognition to Unlock Biodiversity Data

Engage the Public on Climate and Biodiversity

Use collections, exhibits, and programs to help our audiences understand unprecedented climate change and biodiversity loss.

Climate Week 2026 Explore a slate of programs at the Museum during September 2026 in conjunction with Climate Week NYC. Climate Learning Lab Visit this new investigation-driven learning lab, designed for ages 8 and up, on select Saturdays and Sundays, 12–5 pm. Chancellor's Day Workshop: Environmental Action in Our Classrooms This day-long program for K-12 teachers in June 2026 focused on teaching climate change through a lens of justice and civic action. Thursday, June 4, 2026 Urban Futures: Climate Resilience Hackathon In January 2026, the Museum hosted a hackathon to prototype data-driven solutions for a climate-resilient New York City. EarthFest Guide The Museum’s all-ages annual festival celebrates our most precious resource, planet Earth. Decoding Climate from the Caves of Angola Join Museum scientists Nathalie Goodkin and Nikita Kaushal as they journey deep into a cave to sample stalagmites on a 2025 expedition.

Collaborate on Cultural Storytelling and Stewardship

Prioritize co-creation and consultation with descendant communities in exhibitions, programs, and collections stewardship, including return

Monumental: The 3 WatchMen and Other Works by James Hart Monumental presents art works by James Hart, one of the most prominent Northwest Coast artists in Canada. Seeds to Stories: Exploring Traditional Foods of the Haudenosaunee This guided field trip experience for Grade 4 school groups supplements the unit about Native New York.
Grand Ronde Learning Exchange Shaping the Future Through Tradition The Changing Museum Grounded by Our Roots

Expand Participation in Science to All New Yorkers

Build on a historic legacy to expand access to the delight and discovery of science to a broader range of communities

Beyond Elementary Explorations in Science (BEES) BEES turns the school field trip experience into a week-long residency for students and teachers at the Museum. Discoverer Membership If you're enrolled in NYS SNAP, you're eligible to receive a complimentary one-year Discoverer Membership at the Museum.