American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational and cultural institutions. It houses 45 permanent exhibition halls, state-of-the-art research laboratories and a permanent collection of more than 36 million specimens and cultural artifacts. Six fossil halls with more than 600 specimens are arranged by evolutionary relationships in the form of a giant family tree. The Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops and Stegosaurus are three of the most popular fossil skeletons. The Hall of Biodiversity celebrates the variety of life on Earth and examines threats to the planet's health. The hall's centerpiece is a walk-in re-creation of the Central African Republic rain forest, a technological innovation that reinvents the concept of “diorama.” The Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals features 46 mammal species in dioramas of various North American environments. Guided tours are available. Food is available. Time: Allow 4 hours minimum.