Permanent Exhibitions

© AMNH/D. Finnin
You'll find a field guide to the natural world and global cultures within the 40+ galleries in our permanent collection.

 

Biodiversity and Environmental Halls

The Biodiversity and Environmental Halls offer a vivid and inspiring vision of the spectacular beauty and abundance of life on Earth.

Permanent Hall Felix M. Warburg Hall of New York State Environment Explore the mountains, lakes, forests, and farmland of New York State's Dutchess County. Permanent Hall Theodore Roosevelt Hall of Biodiversity A Spectrum of Life display, walk-through diorama, and more highlight Earth's biodiversity and the factors that threaten it. Permanent Hall Hall of North American Forests Habitat dioramas and exhibits showcase the ecology and variety of the forests of North America. Permanent Hall Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life More than 750 marine creatures are featured in 14 dioramas and eight ocean ecosystem displays.

Birds and Reptiles and Amphibians Halls

The Museum’s Birds Halls portray the wide variety of avian life on the planet, and the Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians reviews the anatomy, behavior, and various adaptations of these vertebrates.

Permanent Hall Hall of Birds of the World Dioramas showcase 12 distinct environments around the world and the birds unique to those locations. Permanent Hall Hall of New York City Birds The NYC area attracts over 400 species of birds due to its varied habitats and location along major bird migratory routes. Permanent Hall Leonard C. Sanford Hall of North American Birds More than 20 dioramas depict North American birds in various ecosystems, from Florida Everglades to Alaskan river beds. Permanent Hall Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians Discover the range in anatomy, defense, locomotion, reproduction, and feeding habits of reptiles and amphibians. 

Earth and Planetary Sciences Halls

The Earth and Planetary Sciences halls showcase remarkable specimens, including meteorites, minerals, and rare gems, that offer clues about the origins of our solar system and the dynamic processes of our planet.

Permanent Hall Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals These spectacular halls offer a brilliant showcase for one of the world’s most important collections of gems and minerals. Permanent Hall Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites More than 130 significant meteorites are on view, including the 34-ton Cape York Meteorite, known as Ahnighito.

Fossil Halls

One of the premier attractions in New York City is the Museum's series of fossil halls, including its two famed dinosaur halls in the David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing, as well as the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing of Mammals and Their Extinct Relatives.

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Permanent Hall Paul and Irma Milstein Hall of Advanced Mammals Fossils of extinct mammals including the mammoth and others are on view, with a featured exhibit about horse evolution. Permanent Hall Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs Exhibits feature fossils from ornithischian dinosaurs, including Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Corythosaurus, and others. Permanent Hall Hall of Primitive Mammals This hall highlights early mammal relatives like Dimetrodon and extinct mammals such as glyptodont, and saber-toothed cat.  Permanent Hall Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs This hall features the fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex, Apatosaurus, and others, as well as an example of a dinosaur trackway.  Permanent Hall Hall of Vertebrate Origins Trace the journey of animals with backbones from water to land and see ancient sharks, pterosaurs, and more. Permanent Hall Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Orientation Center See the 122-foot-long Titanosaur and sauropod pelvis, vertebra, and femur fossils from the Museum's collection.

Human Origins and Cultural Halls

The Hall of Human Origins explores the evolutionary story of the human family, while the Cultural Halls examine the cultures of Asia, Africa, North and South America, and the Pacific.

Permanent Hall Northwest Coast Hall Showcasing the creativity, scholarship, and history of Pacific Northwest Indigenous cultures, this gallery reopened in 2022. Permanent Hall Hall of Mexico and Central America Explore archaeological artifacts that shed light on Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic cultures, including Maya, Toltec, Olmec, Aztec.  Permanent Hall Hall of African Peoples Discover objects from religious, political, economic, and domestic aspects of African cultures, from ancient Egypt and beyond.  Permanent Hall Gardner D. Stout Hall of Asian Peoples Some 3,000 artifacts, representing about 5 percent of the Museum's Asian ethnographic collection, are on view here. Permanent Hall Hall of Eastern Woodlands The Hall of Eastern Woodlands is closed as of January 27, 2024. Permanent Hall Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins Trace millions of years of human history, from early ancestors who lived more than six million years ago to modern Homo sapiens. Permanent Hall Margaret Mead Hall of Pacific Peoples Discover the cultural objects of Pacific Peoples past and present, including a cast of a Rapa Nui (Easter Island) moai statue. Permanent Hall Hall of the Great Plains The Hall of the Great Plains is closed as of January 27, 2024. Permanent Hall Hall of South American Peoples Explore the traditions of pre-Hispanic cultures, including the Inca, Moche, Chavin, and Chancay, as well as modern Amazonia.

Mammal Halls

With precise depictions of geographical locations and careful, anatomically correct mounting of the specimens, the dioramas in the Museum's Mammal Halls are among the most renowned in the world.

Permanent Hall Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals Each of the 43 dioramas in this stunningly restored gallery offers a snapshot of North America’s rich environmental heritage. Permanent Hall Akeley Hall of African Mammals This historic gallery features 28 habitat dioramas of Africa's wildlife, around a freestanding group of eight elephants.  Permanent Hall Hall of Asian Mammals Catch a glimpse of some of Asia's largest mammals, including Asian elephants, tigers, sambars, gaurs, and wild dogs. Permanent Hall Hall of New York State Mammals Compare the distinctive external features of a range of more than 50 land mammals—from shrews to bats, beavers to bobcats. Permanent Hall Hall of Primates Trace the shared traits, and unique characteristics, of the mammalian order that includes monkeys, apes, and humans. Permanent Hall Hall of Small Mammals Animals in small dioramas of their natural habitats, from the Canadian tundra to the brush country of southern Texas.

Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation

The new Gilder Center features new exhibition galleries and one-of-a-kind experiences, including an insectarium, floor-to-ceiling collections displays, and more—and connects to the rest of the American Museum of Natural History on four floors.

Permanent Hall Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Insectarium Discover more about insects, the most diverse group of animals on Earth—and why they’re critical to our planet. Permanent Hall Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Collections Core See more than 3,000 objects from the Museum's research collections, from astrophysics to zoology.

Rose Center for Earth and Space

The Rose Center for Earth and Space encompasses the spectacular Hayden Sphere and exhibitions that explore the vast range of sizes in the cosmos, the 13-billion-year history of the universe, the nature of galaxies, stars, and planets, and the dynamic features of planet Earth.

Permanent Hall Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space See the Hayden Sphere and exhibitions that explore the 13-billion-year history of the universe. Permanent Hall Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway This 360-foot-long path in the Rose Center for Earth and Space lays out the 13-billion-year history of the universe.  Permanent Hall Scales of the Universe This 400-foot walkway illustrates the vast range of sizes in the universe, from subatomic particles to planets and stars. Permanent Hall Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe This airy hall explores the formation, evolution, and properties of stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe. Permanent Hall David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth An outstanding collection of geological specimens from around the world shows how our planet works. Permanent Hall Hayden Big Bang Theater The Big Bang presentation, a dynamic flight through the virtual universe, is narrated by Liam Neeson.

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial

The Museum is home to the official New York State memorial to New York's 33rd Governor and the nation's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt.

Permanent Hall Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall Explore Theodore Roosevelt’s journey from a young naturalist to an elected official with a commitment to conservation.

Discovery Room

Permanent Hall Discovery Room Explore science in a hands-on, interactive environment for children. Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 am–1:30 pm and 2:15–5:15 pm.

Ellen V. Futter Gallery

Permanent Hall Ellen V. Futter Gallery Specimens on extended display, as well as the location of the 77th Street exit.