About the Museum
Alvaro Keding/© AMNH
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions.
Founded in 1869 by a special act of the New York State Legislature, the Museum is dedicated to advancing its global mission: to discover, interpret, and disseminate–through scientific research and education–knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.
Museum at a Glance
Plan Your Visit
The Museum is open daily. Find hours, directions, ticket information, and visitor tips.
Press Center
Find the latest news from the Museum as well as contacts for press and filming inquiries.
Historical Timeline
Explore important milestones in the Museum's history since its founding in 1869.
Fulfilling Our Mission
Our Research and Collections
Explore the work of Museum scientists and the Museum's scientific collections of more than 30 million specimens and objects.
Learn & Teach
Engage in a learning experience at the Museum; online programs, classes and other materials for kids, teens, and adults.
Exhibitions
Explore the latest Museum exhibitions and collections across more than 40 permanent exhibit halls.
Richard Gilder Graduate School
Learn about our graduate programs, which offer unparalleled access to the resources of the American Museum of Natural History.
Gottesman Research Library and Learning Center
Visit the Museum’s principal repository for monographs, journals, archives, manuscripts, and rare books.
Cultural Resources Office
The Cultural Resources Office (CRO) facilitates repatriation activities for the American Museum of Natural History.
Institutional Initiatives
Meeting the Moment with Innovation and Excellence
Find out how the Museum is activating collections and catalyzing our long-standing mission through the strategic plan.
New Approaches to Representing Culture
Learn about how and why cultural exhibits are changing at the Museum, and find resources for visitors and teachers.
How You Can Join
Internships and Fellowships
Explore opportunities for internships for high school and college students as well as for fellowships at the Museum.
Careers
Find out about jobs, internships, and fellowships available at the Museum.
Volunteer
Hundreds of volunteers from diverse backgrounds help the Museum meet its mission and goals. Find out how to participate!
Join & Donate
As a Member, you’ll enjoy free tickets, exclusive access during Member Evening Hours, and much more.
Corporate Membership
This distinguished program awards corporations of all sizes significant benefits—including Museum access for employees.
Host an Event
The Museum's many halls, screening rooms, and open spaces are perfect for receptions, dinners, and other gatherings.
Museum Governance
View the Museum's Board of Trustees or download the Governance Policy.
This policy applies to all who manage, work with, use or visit the Collections of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). American Museum of Natural History staff who host visitors to the collections are responsible for ensuring those visitors comply with the terms of this policy.
The Collections Policy and Procedures was approved by the Museum Board of Trustees in October 2023 and updated in December 2024.
The Museum was founded in 1869 by a special act of the New York State Legislature, which specified that the new museum’s purpose was three-fold: “encouraging and developing the study of natural sciences, advancing the knowledge of kindred subjects, and furnishing popular instruction and recreation.”
Today, “popular” is used to describe something that is well-liked or frequently used. But in the 1860s, “popular” was used in the way we might use “accessible” today: something intended for, and broadly available and affordable to, all New Yorkers. This was the original mandate for New York’s museum of natural history.
For the past 150 years, this founding principle has shaped how the Museum evolved to serve more New Yorkers.
For example, in 1892, the Museum opened on Sundays in response to public demand for a second weekend day, the only day many working New Yorkers had free. Today, the Museum still maintains a pay-what-you-wish policy for New Yorkers and offers free general admission to New York City school and camp groups as well as programming for all ages, internships for youth, professional development sessions for teachers, and online resources. In 2025, in line with a new strategic plan that prioritizes expanding access to science, the Museum launched the Discoverer Membership, a free membership for New Yorkers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and opened a dedicated Sensory Room for visitors with sensory needs.
CreateNYC Action Plan
Following the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ CreateNYC Action Plan, which emphasized equitable access to opportunities, services, and resources across NYC’s diverse populations and neighborhoods, the Museum developed its first formal DEI plan in 2019.
Notices
Translations
This notice was translated into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and Korean on June 10, 2021. Information in the notice has been updated since that date.
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To report a concern regarding improper conduct or non-compliance with Museum policies, please submit a report (openly, confidentially or anonymously) through this online form or call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-620-5571, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can provide assistance to callers in over 100 languages.
For customer service issues or to reach a particular department, please use the Contact Us form.