Located near Central Park, NYC's American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is a key player in paleontological research, with one of the largest dinosaur fossil collections in North America. From the towering Tyrannosaurus rex to the massive Titanosaur, these exhibits bring prehistoric creatures to life through innovative displays and scientific interpretation.
A Journey Through Time
Founded in 1869, AMNH has conducted over 100 significant expeditions, starting with the 19th-century expedition to Como Bluff, Wyoming. Located on the museum's fourth floor, the Fossil Halls draw millions of visitors annually, featuring well-preserved specimens that tell the story of life on Earth spanning over 65 million years.
Inside the Fossil Halls – A Dinosaur Lover's Paradise
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Orientation Center greets you to the Fossil Halls with fossils from sauropod dinosaurs. Each one is dedicated to different aspects of prehistoric life. The layout features an evolutionary timeline, allowing visitors to explore species development and adaptations to changing environments.
Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs
The Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs highlights the diversity of lizard-hipped dinosaurs, from giant plant-eaters to agile predators. The Velociraptor display features its unique bone structure and deadly sickle-shaped claw. The towering Apatosaurus skeleton illustrates how these giants supported their weight with adapted vertebrae. Fossilized footprints in ancient mudstone reveal insights into dinosaur movement and social behavior, while rare egg nests enhance our understanding of dinosaur reproduction and parental care.
Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs
The bird-hipped dinosaurs on display in this hall exhibit a fascinating range of defensive adaptations and feeding strategies. The complete Stegosaurus skeleton highlights its combination of passive and active defense with protective plates and a spiked tail. Recent studies indicate these plates might have aided in temperature regulation.
The Triceratops display features specimens at various growth stages, illustrating their development from juveniles to adults. The smallest specimen, about the size of a large dog, reveals early signs of the frill and horns that become significant defensive features. The adult's massive skull, over eight feet long, shows healed injuries, offering insights into defensive behaviors and competition among species.
The museum even has a duck-billed dinosaur mummy. The fossilized imprint of the Anatotitan is one of the greatest discoveries in the history of paleontology.
Must-See Dinosaur Fossils at AMNH
The Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the museum's most impressive specimens. It weighs about seven tons and features a nearly complete skull. Biomechanical studies reveal how this predator moved and hunted, while modern scanning techniques suggest it had keen vision and an exceptional sense of smell.
The Titanosaur, measuring 122 feet tall, is one of the museum's most famous dinosaurs. Discovered in Patagonia, this massive herbivore showcases the size limits of terrestrial animals. Its bones have lightweight internal structures akin to those in modern birds, and the challenging mounting of its skeleton extends its head into the hallway, emphasizing its size.
The Allosaurus display illustrates predator-prey relationships from the late Jurassic period. This complete skeleton, posed as if hunting, shows healed injuries and reveals powerful muscle attachment points. Its serrated teeth highlight adaptations for slicing through flesh, aiding museum scientists in understanding the evolution of predatory behavior in theropod dinosaurs.
Evolution and Extinction — What Dinosaurs Teach Us
The fossil halls narrate the story of evolution, adaptation, and extinction over millions of years. You can learn about dinosaur development from their earliest Triassic appearances to their dominance in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Exhibits showcase the evolution of early dinosaurs from small creatures into diverse species, highlighting innovations like feathers and specialized feeding strategies.
Significant attention is given to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, with dynamic displays exploring various extinction theories and evidence for an asteroid impact. Geological samples illustrate the environmental upheaval of the time, drawing parallels between ancient climate shifts and today's global warming.
The museum also examines how some dinosaur species adapted to earlier environmental challenges, providing insights into resilience and adaptation that resonate with current biodiversity issues. Additionally, it tells the survival story of modern birds, the descendants of theropod dinosaurs, illustrating nature's resilience amid significant environmental changes.
Interactive and Hands-On Experiences
The museum transforms paleontological science into engaging hands-on experiences through its innovative Discovery Room and interactive stations. You can touch genuine fossils, examine specimens under microscopes, and participate in simulated excavations.
Digital reconstruction stations in the halls revive extinct species using advanced technology. See how dinosaurs moved, look at their potential skin and muscles, and understand their interactions with the environment. Motion-sensing displays show their movement, while touchscreen exhibits allow exploration of their internal anatomy and biology.
Special Exhibits and Rotating Features
The museum frequently updates its dinosaur exhibits with special displays that highlight new research and discoveries. Recent exhibitions have focused on the role of feathers in dinosaur evolution and featured newly discovered species. Current projects, including excavations and laboratory studies, are showcased through multimedia presentations, demonstrating how new technologies are reshaping our understanding of prehistoric life.
Save with New York CityPASS® Tickets
New York CityPASS® tickets offer great value at the American Museum of Natural History. Science fans will enjoy other exhibits in the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, including the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium. You can also walk through Theodore Roosevelt Park to see the Space Show at the Hayden Planetarium.
The museum's Upper West Side location is perfect for exploring other top New York attractions using CityPASS® tickets.
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck: Soar 70 stories above Manhattan for spectacular open-air views of Central Park and the city skyline.
- Empire State Building: Step into a marvel of Art Deco engineering with hands-on exhibits about the science behind skyscrapers.
- The Guggenheim Museum: Experience modern art in Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, a spiral wonder of light and space.
Purchase your NYC CityPASS® tickets and explore what the Big Apple has to offer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Natural History Museum in New York have dinosaurs?
The American Museum of Natural History has one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world. It features halls dedicated to different dinosaur groups, including the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs and the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, showcasing insights into various prehistoric species.
What Dinosaurs are on display?
Dinosaur displays are periodically updated to reflect new scientific discoveries and perform maintenance, ensuring they remain accurate and in good condition. While some specimens may be temporarily removed, the Barosaurus in the Roosevelt Rotunda stays in its permanent position, welcoming visitors to the museum.
Is there a T. rex at the Natural History Museum, NYC?
The museum showcases an impressive T. rex specimen in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, one of the most complete ever found. This fossil offers insights into the predator's biology and behavior, featuring one of the most complete T. rex skulls. It helps you learn about late Cretaceous apex predators through its preserved features and signs of ancient injuries.
What is the biggest dinosaur in the Natural History Museum in New York?
The Titanosaur is the largest dinosaur on display at the museum, measuring 122 feet long. Discovered in Argentina, its head stretches into the adjacent hallway, providing visitors with a unique view of the size of terrestrial animals. This installation highlights the museum's dedication to showcasing significant prehistoric specimens.
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Header image ©AMNH/D. Finnin