New York State Museum
New York State Museum
4.5
Natural History Museums • Nature & Wildlife Areas • History Museums
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Under the leadership of the New York State Education Department, this museum and research center preserves New York State's artistic, social, historical and environmental legacies through such exhibits as "Native Peoples of New York," "The Cohoes Mastodont" and "Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s."
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,104 reviews
Excellent
713
Very good
316
Average
53
Poor
13
Terrible
9
utfiero
Austin, TX3,672 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Large, clean, very nice museum. Covers the history of New York State including growth of NY City, fire trucks, minerals of New York, forests, an exhibit devoted to 9/11, and much more.
Cost: no fee, donations accepted
Time budget: 2 hours for a quick viewing of all exhibits, 3-4 for a thorough viewing
Gems of the museum: (1) 9/11 exhibit, (2) black and white photos of steelworkers on skyscrapers and of transitioning City
Overall cleanliness: above average
Staff: helpful and polite
Cost: no fee, donations accepted
Time budget: 2 hours for a quick viewing of all exhibits, 3-4 for a thorough viewing
Gems of the museum: (1) 9/11 exhibit, (2) black and white photos of steelworkers on skyscrapers and of transitioning City
Overall cleanliness: above average
Staff: helpful and polite
Written November 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robert T
Sussex80 contributions
Oct 2022
Free museum (they request a donation). The had part of the Sesame Street set, 9/11 artifacts (and a moving video), minerals, and an assortment of other displays.
Written October 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
N0rmalee
Bossier City, LA618 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This isn’t exactly what we anticipated, hardly any paintings. Included info about Indians and a longhouse, minerals prevalent in New York, a mastodon, birds and animals, but the most fascinating stuff was from the horrific events of 9/11. Those of us living in other parts of the country saw all the video footage and read the articles at the time but actually seeing the fire trucks and mutilated building parts, and photos and stats in person was so moving.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RandS_TX
houston318 contributions
Sep 2022
Ironically, I visited this museum on 9/11. The World Trade Center exhibit is filled with items found at the site. I was mesmerized by the fire truck. There are related videos from eye witnesses. Besides the World Trade Center, there were other exhibits from Sesame Street to minerals and rocks. There was a nice collection of taxadermy and a huge wolly mammoth. Nice free museum.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ChrisH
Frederick, MD454 contributions
Aug 2022
Two adults spent a full day at the New York State Museum and didn’t manage to quite fit all of it in. YMMV as we love interesting museums and tend to read/listen to all of the available information. That said, it has many fascinating exhibits such as the fire truck room, history on the founding of New York, a First Peoples room that has many interactive screens, many exhibits on New York natural history including a skeleton of a mastodon found in state, a Harlem in the 1920s exhibit, New York minerals and birds, and more. Something for everyone. Masks suggested but not required of guests. No set admission fee but a suggested donation of $10 per family. There is a manned parking lot located next to the museum that costs $10 for the day. No food or drinks are available in the museum but the Empire State Plaza across the street has these.
Written August 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ken j
Manalapan, NJ835 contributions
Aug 2022
This showed the natural history of NY. We loved the mineral display, which was great (I know, I collect minerals). The bird display was also good, as was the extensive displays on New York City. We spent about 3 and a half hours here, which was worth it.
I do wish they had some movies on New York, like visitor centers do. Also, NY has the best fossil eurypterids (sea scorpions) in the world, they should display a few.
I do wish they had some movies on New York, like visitor centers do. Also, NY has the best fossil eurypterids (sea scorpions) in the world, they should display a few.
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
dave4131978
Corning, NY5 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Plan on more than 3 hours for your trip. A great place to learn about the history of NY state. There so much to see and read, just plan enough time. And it was free admission, just donations accepted, usually $5/person is normal!!
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hrobinson1114
Nashville, TN2,690 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
I was catfished by this museum. The website made it look sleek, modern, and full of topics I was interested in. It advertised an exhibit on Harlem as well as multiple other exhibits centering on the black experience.
I was disappointed to find two of those three exhibits in dark, remote corners, and sadly they consisted of a ton of print on the wall. No interaction, very few artifacts, and it was a basically like an internet search had been hung up to read.
The Harlem exhibit was a little better, with some artifacts and photos, but it glossed over a HUGE period of black history.
The rest of this museum is the run of the mill stuff, such as fossils, minerals, local wildlife specimens, local geology. A little history of NYC, but you’d be better off driving a couple hours down to the city, where there are tons of museums that do it better.
They had a 9/11 section, which was solemn and appreciated.
Because most places are trying their best, I would have even pushed this to four stars, but I can’t forgive the fact I was so excited to see three exhibits on black America and found this museum treated them as an after thought.
On the bright side, it’s free and donation as you wish.
I was disappointed to find two of those three exhibits in dark, remote corners, and sadly they consisted of a ton of print on the wall. No interaction, very few artifacts, and it was a basically like an internet search had been hung up to read.
The Harlem exhibit was a little better, with some artifacts and photos, but it glossed over a HUGE period of black history.
The rest of this museum is the run of the mill stuff, such as fossils, minerals, local wildlife specimens, local geology. A little history of NYC, but you’d be better off driving a couple hours down to the city, where there are tons of museums that do it better.
They had a 9/11 section, which was solemn and appreciated.
Because most places are trying their best, I would have even pushed this to four stars, but I can’t forgive the fact I was so excited to see three exhibits on black America and found this museum treated them as an after thought.
On the bright side, it’s free and donation as you wish.
Written March 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
George S
2 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Well, where to begin, first let me say I will never go there again. I passed a family walking up the sidewalk ask the man are they open, he said yes. Good I thought then he said they ask for their vaccine cards then ask if his five year olds where vaccinated! They left, so when my partner and I went in both over 65 I might add we got PROOFED! We left our cards where home. Masked of Course.......
Written February 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ClarinetMaster1
Latham, NY72 contributions
Jan 2022
Though the museum is only on one floor, it's a huge space with many exhibits. Lots of reading and learning and a nice collection of artifacts to look at. A place all New Yorkers should visit at some point to learn about their state. Need at least 3+ hours to properly experience it, but it's free to visit.
Beware during Covid-19 (in 2022), you might need to have proof of vaccination and photo ID - some visitors were turned away.
Beware during Covid-19 (in 2022), you might need to have proof of vaccination and photo ID - some visitors were turned away.
Written January 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Summer3317
Hopewell Junction, NY47 contributions
How long does the museum take to see everything? Also with a 3 and 5 year old.
Mommacat41
Elmira, NY82 contributions
I would plan on 3-4 hours to see the entire museum - but you can follow the well organized map to target places that your family would enjoy the most. Also - there is an amazing carousel on the top level that you'll want to ride.
New York State day in history emailed to us
jerrybacchus
Albany, NY114 contributions
Can you elaborate please
Craig R
Montrose, PA2 contributions
Where do I park
pnaw10
Syracuse, NY73 contributions
First, a quote from the museum website, then my additional commentary: "Parking is available in the two lots adjacent to the Museum, both accessed from Madison Avenue. Prior to 10:00 a.m., the weekday parking fee is $10. After 10:00 a.m., the weekday parking fee is $5. Parking is free after 2:00 p.m. and on weekends."
These lots are the most convenient, but because they're free on weekends -- when most people visit -- they tend to fill up quickly. The last time I visited, we circled around and found metered street parking about a block away. But as another commenter noted, more paid parking is available in the nearby Empire State Plaza. The state-owned facility charges $10 for weekday entry before 11am, and $5 for weekdays after 11am, or all day weekends. The Empire State Plaza provides a mostly (if not entirely) indoor walk to the museum. The main entrance to the Empire State Plaza connects directly to I-787, so it's very well-signed. Getting into the ESP directly from downtown surface streets can be a bit tricky if you don't know the downtown Albany street grid that well.
mrsnancyf
4 contributions
Is there parking available,how much does it cost is it open on Thursdays,are there guided tours and is it in walking distance to the state capital?
pnaw10
Syracuse, NY73 contributions
Google "New York State Museum" for their website, and then click "Visit" in the main menu to see hours (open daily except Mondays) and links to detailed information about parking. I'd paste a link here, but TripAdvisor doesn't allow links to be included in responses.
Museum admission is free, but you'll have to pay for parking UNLESS you manage to find a spot in one of the open-air lots adjacent to the museum after 2pm. Earlier than that, and it'll cost you either $5 or $10, depending on how early you arrive.
The Empire State Plaza visitors lot (well-signed and directly accessible from I-787) will put you underneath the middle of the plaza, between the Capitol Building and the Museum. The plaza itself is an indoor facility, so you don't need to worry much about rainy weather.
labwesternNY
western NY29 contributions
Can anyone suggest a hotel in walking distance to the museum? We don't need anything elegant- we will be going to the museum the next day and hear the parking is challenging at the museum. We will be with a fairly large group.
RetiredTravelerTN
Nashville, TN3,842 contributions
We did not stay in the downtown area due to cost, but we did arrive downtown early in the day and easily parked at the New York State Museum visitor parking ($10 for the day). The parking lot did fill by mid/late morning. As you face the entrance of the museum on Madison Avenue, the drive to the parking lot is on the right side of the building.
Hi, can you tell me if service dogs/ therapy dogs are allowed in museum? And also service or therapy dogs in training (final stage) allowed?
napngs
Albany, NY336 contributions
Yes. See this NYS Attorney General's website for what you must provide as proof that the dog is certified.
Gil P
Clinton, NY10 contributions
If I am taking Amtrak from Utica to Albany, can I get off the train and walk to the Museum or do I have to take another form of transportation (bus, cab) to get there?
kgill150
Voorheesville, NY85 contributions
The State Museum is in Albany and the Amtrak Station is in Rensselaer. You could not possibly walk it.
Gil P
Clinton, NY10 contributions
If I am taking Amtrak from Utica to Albany, can I get off the train in Albany and walk to the museum or do I have to take another form of transportation to get there?
Rosemary P
Newtonville, NY16 contributions
Train stops in Rennselear. You will need to take a cab. Cabs are not metered in Albany. They charge by the number of zones you travel through. Probably take about ten minutes or so from train station to museum.
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Suggest an editNew York State Museum (Albany) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about New York State Museum
- New York State Museum is open:
- Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near New York State Museum:
- (0.33 mi) Renaissance Albany Hotel
- (0.62 mi) Morgan State House
- (0.28 mi) Mansion Hill Inn
- (0.47 mi) Fairfield Inn & Suites Albany Downtown
- (0.61 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown
- Restaurants near New York State Museum:
- (0.18 mi) El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant
- (0.17 mi) Cheesecake Machismo
- (0.41 mi) Villa Di Como Ristorante & Farm Distillery
- (0.16 mi) New Madison Grille
- (0.52 mi) Iron Gate Cafe