American Museum of Natural History vs Museum of Modern Art
Quick answer
American Museum of Natural History and Museum of Modern Art are two of New York City's essential museums — one an art museum, the other a modern & contemporary art museum. Here is how they compare on admission, highlights, and time needed. World Museum Guide compares admission, highlights, and time needed side by side — both American Museum of Natural History and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) have full visitor guides below.
New York City, United States
American Museum of Natural History
$28 suggested admission for NY residents; $33 for others
⏱ 3–4 hours
New York City, United States
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
$25 standard admission
⏱ 2–4 hours
Side by side
| American Museum of Natural History | Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | New York City, United States | New York City, United States |
| Museum type | Art Museum | Modern & Contemporary Art |
| Admission | $28 suggested admission for NY residents; $33 for others | $25 standard admission |
| Free entry | — | First Friday evening of each month (5–9 PM) · Members always free · Under 16 free |
| Time needed | 3–4 hours | 2–4 hours |
| Closed | — | — |
| Standout works | Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton; Blue Whale Model | The Starry Night; Les Demoiselles d'Avignon |
| Good for | Families, History Enthusiasts, First-timers | Art Lovers, Contemporary Art, First-timers |
Facts from our verified data file (last verified 2026-06-30) — confirm on each museum's official site before travelling.
Choose American Museum of Natural History if…
Choose American Museum of Natural History for Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and Blue Whale Model — admission is $28 suggested admission for NY residents. Allow 3–4 hours.
Choose Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) if…
Choose Museum of Modern Art for The Starry Night and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon — admission is $25 standard admission. Allow 2–4 hours.
Visiting both
Both are in New York City. With 3–4 hours suggested for one and 2–4 hours for the other, combining both in a single day is ambitious — two days is more comfortable.
American Museum of Natural History guide → Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) guide →