Park News Article
New York State Museum: Where the History Lives!
September 26, 2024
Experience the history of New York State with a visit to the New York State Museum located in the heart of Albany New York! Sitting opposite the New York State Capitol in the architecturally stunning Empire State Plaza is the Museum, otherwise known as the New York State Museum of Natural History.
Fun Fact: Since its opening in 1836, the Museum has been widely known as the oldest and largest state museum in the entire United States! Not only that, but it is also one of the largest tourist attractions in the Capitol Region, attracting more than 500,000 visitors per year!
- Previously located in the State Education building on nearby Washington Avenue from 1912 to 1976, it relocated to the Cultural Education Center at 222 Madison Avenue once the construction of the iconic Empire State Plaza was finished. Dedicated to sharing the history of the state with everyone, the museum is home to a wide array of fascinating exhibits such as the Native Peoples of New York Hall, the Great Art Series, and the World Trade Center exhibition, amongst many others.
- The legendary NYS Museum contains more than 16 million scientific specimens and artifacts spread out across its 100,000 sq ft. building. Some of these originate from the founders of American paleontology, ethnology, botany, mycology, and more from over a span of 170 years of research!
All these artifacts and exhibits are organized into a variety of different exhibition areas and spaces around the museum:
- New York Metropolis Hall
- West Gallery
- Adirondack Hall
- Bird Hall
- West Corridor
- Bird Hall
- World Trade Center Gallery
- South Lobby
- Crossroads Gallery
- Discovery Place
- 4th Floor Terrace
With many free programs for families, adults and children, there is something for everyone! Whether you want to take a tour down memory lane and visit Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird at Sesame Street, climb aboard an authentic subway train car from the 1940s, or even ride a 48-foot diameter antique carousel, you can find all this and more at the New York State Museum!
The New York State Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30am to 5:00pm and closed on Mondays and state observed holidays. On-street parking is available adjacent to the museum along Madison Avenue (On street parking is free all day on weekends), so go check out the Museum and enjoy everything this Albany staple has to offer!
