CultureCastINTELLIGENCE

Predictive Cultural Attraction & Crowd Engine

natural historyEst. 1869 • EIN: 13-6163350

American Museum of Natural History

Titanosaur, Hayden Planetarium, and the Gilder Center for Science

200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Median Dwell: 3.5 hrs
Official Website
Bang-for-Buck Index
85.2/100
Rank #6 Nationally • #1 in CategoryDedicated Crowd Forecast →
New Gilder CenterNY/NJ/CT Resident Pay-What-You-Wish34M Specimens
Adult Admission$28Child: $16
Net Endowment (990)$850.0M10.9x Annual Op Revenue
Annual Attendance4.5M4.7 ★ (61,200 reviews)
Philanthropic Subsidy$24.88 / visitUnderwritten by donors & trusts

Curatorial Scope & Campus Footprint

Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, AMNH is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, spanning 26 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls.

Civic Free Days & Community Policy

Pay-what-you-wish for residents of NY, NJ, and CT with valid state ID at on-site ticket counters.

Campus Footprint2.0M sq ft
Collection Holdings34.0M works
Title I School Access85/100 Index
Donor Propensity87/100 Score

Visitor Sentiment Audit

4.7 ★ (61K)
Core Exhibits & Curation95.0%
Facility & Architecture93.0%
Ticket & Value Fairness76.0%
Top Visitor Praises
  • •Gilder Center architecture is breathtaking
  • •Titanosaur 122-foot cast
  • •Hayden Planetarium space shows
Common Visitor Friction Points
  • •Enormous layout causes fatigue
  • •High special exhibit add-on fees
  • •Crowded cafeteria at noon

30-Day Forward Crowd Forecast

Predictive hourly density curves combining search intent, seasonal trends, and local mobility

Low Moderate Busy Peak
Monday, 2026-11-02Peak Density (95/100)

Recommended Entry Window: Strictly opening door time (9:30 AM–10:30 AM)

Forecast StatusClear / Climate Controlled

Hourly Crowd Density Curve (10 AM – 5 PM)

38%
10 AM
71%
11 AM
90%
12 PM
95%
1 PM
87%
2 PM
76%
3 PM
52%
4 PM
29%
5 PM

Total Cost of Visit Calculator

Itemized expense simulation factoring admission tiers, concession markups, parking fees, and pass discounts.

2
1
0
0
Estimated Total Visit Outlay
$178for 3 people
Admission Tickets$72
Parking$40
Onsite Dining$66
Cost / Person:$59
Cost / Dwell Hour:$50.90/hr
💡 Cost Optimizer Tips

• Take advantage of Pay-what-you-wish for residents of NY, NJ, and CT with valid state ID at on-site ticket counters..

• Public transit or nearby garage apps save up to $20 on parking.

IRS Form 990 & Endowment Transparency

EIN: 13-6163350 • Fiscal Year 2024 Filings

501(c)(3) Verified
Endowment Size$850.0M10.9x Program Revenue
Philanthropy & Grants$112.0M58.0% Support Ratio
Admissions Revenue$78.0MOperating Gate Intake
Donor Subsidy / Visit$24.88Philanthropic Underwriting
Total Operating Expenses: $215.0MFiscal Deficit: $-8.5M

AMNH’s endowment covers approximately 47 months of operating overhead. Every visitor admission is offset by $24.88 in contributed donations, grants, and investment yields.

Institutional Elasticity & Gate Revenue Simulator

Empirical demand curve simulation calibrated to elasticity coefficient (-0.42)

Elasticity: -0.42
Modeled Adult Admission Ticket Price$33
Free ($0)Current: $28Premium ($90)
Price Adjustment
+17.9%
vs. $28 baseline
Projected Attendance
4.2M(-7.5%)
Annual Foot Traffic
Projected Net Gate Revenue
$137.4M(+$11.4M)
Annual Ticket Gross
Low Risk — Revenue Accretive

Minimal friction on philanthropic conversion pipeline.

Head-to-Head Peer Benchmarking

All institution matchups →
Direct Comparison DossierAMNH vs. Houston Natural ScienceV-Score: 85.2 vs 84.8 • Gate: $28 vs $25

Frequently Asked Questions & Visit Logistics

How much does admission cost?

General adult admission is $28, children $16, and seniors $22.

Are there civic free days or discounts?

Pay-what-you-wish for residents of NY, NJ, and CT with valid state ID at on-site ticket counters.

How long should I plan to visit?

Mobility data indicates visitors spend a median dwell time of 3.5 hours to explore the full permanent collection and grounds.

What are the parking and dining options?

On-site garage/lot parking is approximately $40. Dining is serviced by Restaurant Associates / Gilder Cafe ($22/meal).

Related Peer Cultural Institutions

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Chicago, IL
V-Score: 82.1

The Field Museum of Natural History

SUE the T. rex, Ancient Egypt, and 40 Million Natural History Specimens

Admission$30
Median Dwell3.3 hrs
Crowd LevelModerate
Endowment$420.0M
SUE the T. rexFree Wednesdays for IL Residents
1.4M visitors/yrView Forecast→
Houston, TX
V-Score: 84.8

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Paleontology Hall of Prehistoric Predators, Cockrell Butterfly Center & Gems

Admission$25
Median Dwell3.2 hrs
Crowd LevelModerate
Endowment$115.0M
Dynamic Paleontology HallFree Tuesday Evenings
2.0M visitors/yrView Forecast→