American Museum of Natural History

Call Directions

American Museum of Natural History The Museum showcases its amazing treasures in the exhibit halls, and behind the scenes more than 200 scientists are at work making new discoveries.

Since its founding in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History has collected more than 33 million specimens relating to the natural world and human cultures. Millions of people from around the world visit the Museum each year.

Have you ever heard of the “zombie frog” (Synapturanus zombie)? This amphibian was unknown to science until 2021. Measur...
10/21/2026

Have you ever heard of the “zombie frog” (Synapturanus zombie)? This amphibian was unknown to science until 2021. Measuring about 1.5 in long (3.9 cm), it inhabits parts of the Guiana Shield in South America where this nocturnal animal spends much of its time underground. Its name is a nod to its discovery: When researchers heard this narrow-mouthed frog’s unique vocalizations, they dug into the ground with their hands in search of the source of the sound... leaving them covered in mud with a zombie-like appearance. 🧟

Photo: Sébastien SANT, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

Blah! 🧛 Though it has “fangs,” the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) is no vampire. This herbivore inhabits high-altit...
10/21/2026

Blah! 🧛 Though it has “fangs,” the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) is no vampire. This herbivore inhabits high-altitude forests where it feeds on vegetation. Only males sport the signature tusks, which are used in combat over territory and to attract mates. These canines can grow up to 1 in (2.5 cm) long. This species can be found in parts of Asia. It’s crepuscular, meaning it’s typically most active at dawn and dusk.

Photo: Николай Усик, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

If Tim Burton had a favorite cephalopod, it might be this one. Meet the striped pyjama squid (Sepioloidea lineolata)! De...
10/20/2026

If Tim Burton had a favorite cephalopod, it might be this one. Meet the striped pyjama squid (Sepioloidea lineolata)! Despite its common name, this critter is actually a cuttlefish—and it’s one of the few poisonous cephalopods known to science. When threatened, it can change color and secrete slime to intimidate foes. It typically spends its days nestled beneath the sand, rising at night to hunt for small shrimp and fish. This species inhabits shallow waters around Australia, including near the Great Barrier Reef.

Photo: Rafi Amar, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

It’s Trilobite Tuesday! Measuring 1 in (2.5 cm) long, the specimen pictured here is one of the few complete examples kno...
10/20/2026

It’s Trilobite Tuesday! Measuring 1 in (2.5 cm) long, the specimen pictured here is one of the few complete examples known of the trilobite genus Reraspis. Only in recent years have preparation techniques advanced to where the detailed features of such diminutive cheirurid trilobites can be fully revealed. This specimen’s alabaster color is indicative of material collected from the Upper Ordovician Alekseevka Quarry in Eastern Europe.

Have you ever seen a white Common Raven (Corvus corax)? No, this isn’t a new species… or a ghost. 👻This Raven’s striking...
10/19/2026

Have you ever seen a white Common Raven (Corvus corax)? No, this isn’t a new species… or a ghost. 👻This Raven’s striking pale plumage is the result of the genetic mutations leucism or albinism. Leucism is a reduction in all types of pigmentation, including melanin. Albinism is the inability to produce or distribute melanin. One hint to tell the difference? Individuals affected by leucism often have blue eyes, while individuals with albinism have pink eyes. White Common Ravens are rare. An estimated 1 in 30,000 individuals is born without this species’ signature black plumage.

Photo: cedarleaf, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

Want to explore the Museum after hours… without the crowds? Museum Members get exclusive access during monthly Member Ev...
10/19/2026

Want to explore the Museum after hours… without the crowds? Museum Members get exclusive access during monthly Member Evening Hours! Save the date for our next event on Monday, October 26, featuring a spooky scavenger hunt. The first 400 Members to complete the scavenger hunt will receive a $15 Nordstrom voucher, redeemable at the 57th Street and Broadway location, while supplies last.

With thanks to our neighbor, Nordstrom NYC, for their generous support of Member Evening Hours. Become a Member today!

Photos: Alvaro Keding and Daniel Kim/© AMNH

What’s one of the spookiest-looking fungi in the world? That would be the dead man’s fingers (Xylaria polymorpha). Its “...
10/18/2026

What’s one of the spookiest-looking fungi in the world? That would be the dead man’s fingers (Xylaria polymorpha). Its “fingers” are its fruiting body, and they can grow up to 4 in (10 cm) tall. You might spot it within its wide range, which spans North America and Europe. It’s typically found in forests growing on decaying or dead wood.

Photo: Josh Doty, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

Behold the striking colors of the blue-spotted stingray (Taeniura lymma)! Its bright spots are a warning to onlookers th...
10/18/2026

Behold the striking colors of the blue-spotted stingray (Taeniura lymma)! Its bright spots are a warning to onlookers that this fish is venomous. To ensure that its bold patterning is looking its best, the stingray is often found at “cleaning stations” around coral reefs where shrimp and small fish remove dead skin and parasites. If its blue spots aren’t enough to ward off a foe, it’s equipped with a tail that is ready to inject a lethal dose of toxins.

Photo: Derek Keats, CC-BY-2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Here’s a timely Exhibit of the Day: the White-tailed Deer Diorama! This scene takes place on an October morning in Bear ...
10/17/2026

Here’s a timely Exhibit of the Day: the White-tailed Deer Diorama! This scene takes place on an October morning in Bear Mountain State Park, New York. A family of white-tailed deer are seen snacking on the leaves of blackgum trees that are already ablaze in scarlet. Besides black bears, white-tailed deer are the only large mammals still common on the East Coast. See these deer up close in the Museum’s Hall of North American Mammals.

Photo: D. Finnin/ © AMNH

Happy birthday to Mae Jemison, born on this day in 1956! In 1992, Dr. Jemison became the first woman of color to fly in ...
10/17/2026

Happy birthday to Mae Jemison, born on this day in 1956! In 1992, Dr. Jemison became the first woman of color to fly in space, as the science mission specialist on an eight-day joint U.S.-Japan mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavor. For the mission, which was completed in 127 Earth orbits, she led experiments on bone density loss in zero gravity.

Photo: NASA

Address

200 Central Park West
New York, NY
10024

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm
Thursday 10am - 5:30pm
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5:30pm
Sunday 10am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+12127695100

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when American Museum of Natural History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category