National Museum of Mathematics
National Museum of Mathematics
3.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Madison Square
How to get there
- 28th St • 3 min walk
- 23rd St • 4 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
407 reviews
Excellent
139
Very good
125
Average
61
Poor
45
Terrible
37
Justin W
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ7,279 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
This is the second time I have visited the Museum of Mathematics and the first time in its new location. The museum is an interactive museum for parents and small children who are looking for interesting things to do.
Each of the exhibits explain math and problem solving in an interesting way. There are weights and balances, motion issues, light and sound machines and interactive screens where you enter the screen in a different realm. Each of the displays is a hands on approach to having some fun with the machines.
I have to admit the place is very pricey at $26. 00 a ticket to a family with small children.
Each of the exhibits explain math and problem solving in an interesting way. There are weights and balances, motion issues, light and sound machines and interactive screens where you enter the screen in a different realm. Each of the displays is a hands on approach to having some fun with the machines.
I have to admit the place is very pricey at $26. 00 a ticket to a family with small children.
Written December 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin W
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ7,279 contributions
Feb 2022
I finally got to visit the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. While it was a pricey endeavor with a few of the exhibits out of order, I found it a learning experience.
First this museum is an interactive museum geared to young kids and their families so if you are looking for the history of math or its more scientific approach, you will be disappointed. The hands-on displays help explain the intricate explanations of math and how three-dimensional exhibitions get you involved with solving them.
What I liked too as an adult is that they gave the history and development of math and it problems by experts, researchers and professors of the field and their contributions to it. This is what I found fascinating.
I liked the Human Hands exhibit with its movements and the way it displayed the participant on the screen. I also liked the Tessellation Station where you can construct your own displays. I liked then learning about the theory of Tessellation from the experts and how it all plays out in the exhibition.
Most of the displays are geared towards kids and those displays can take a lot of abuse but I think that is the fun of it all. They need to make these displays a bit more durable for the kids who like to have fun.
As a single adult, it is fun to experience once but unless you have small children, I would suggest another more adult friendly museum. This is a great one though for small kids.
First this museum is an interactive museum geared to young kids and their families so if you are looking for the history of math or its more scientific approach, you will be disappointed. The hands-on displays help explain the intricate explanations of math and how three-dimensional exhibitions get you involved with solving them.
What I liked too as an adult is that they gave the history and development of math and it problems by experts, researchers and professors of the field and their contributions to it. This is what I found fascinating.
I liked the Human Hands exhibit with its movements and the way it displayed the participant on the screen. I also liked the Tessellation Station where you can construct your own displays. I liked then learning about the theory of Tessellation from the experts and how it all plays out in the exhibition.
Most of the displays are geared towards kids and those displays can take a lot of abuse but I think that is the fun of it all. They need to make these displays a bit more durable for the kids who like to have fun.
As a single adult, it is fun to experience once but unless you have small children, I would suggest another more adult friendly museum. This is a great one though for small kids.
Written February 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flo220
New York City, NY430 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
The Museum of Math is always a hit with our 7 1/2, 5 and 4 year old grandkids. We were there for 3 hours until it closed and the kids enjoyed all of the exhibits. The staff is very helpful but there should be more explanation about the math behind the exhibits and for some how to use them. Also several exhibits are closed for maintenance. Given the museum is not that big that detracts from it.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark R
2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
This place wouldn’t be worth going to if it was free, never mind the fact that it is grossly overpriced. The museum (which is a misnomer) of mathematics (again a misnomer) is essentially a small room with various activities mainly aimed at eight-thirteen year olds. These include changing track directions for a simple train track that most people pass over after two minutes, riding a bike with square wheels around a miniature track that soon loses any initial fun it possessed, and a fit-the-mismatched-blocks video game that may have been a success in 1996. Having been to much better sci-tech centers for children and adults, this one is by far the poorest in providing and retaining sufficient interest and joy. The ‘museum’ is overstaffed and like any place brimmed full of temporary
help, don’t really know what to do with themselves (six were playing hangman together in the corner I noticed at one point). Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, considering that it is in New York, which I would expect to be able to offer a match for much better versions of other sci-tech centers.
help, don’t really know what to do with themselves (six were playing hangman together in the corner I noticed at one point). Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, considering that it is in New York, which I would expect to be able to offer a match for much better versions of other sci-tech centers.
Written July 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David K
Houston, TX51 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Many exhibits didn’t work, at all. Others were frustrating with partial functionality. Colors replaced concepts. Example: a computerized image creator that, I think, was partly intended to illustrate group theory (at least those words were used) had no description of what various choices illustrated or even of what they could do (and only some selectors worked). I still have no idea of why a projector made my arms into tree branches. A few kids enjoyed rocking on oddly shaped chairs, but even for interested adults there was no explanation why they were there. Ernest staff (I saw only boys, at least not only Anglo boys) could have been docents, but one thought the museum had three floors (it has 2), and never were present at exhibits - except in a room with images, where one young man was able to discuss the image of set theory used for numbers (number eight), but knew nothing if that fascinating history. (Hint to curators: create an explanatory image that shows how brackets in different colors define that number; some description of why scholars made that effort; and maybe something about completeness and consistency— and, if you’re going to give a whole wall to images of numbers 1 to 100, tell us why; better would be a much enhanced exploration of Fibonacci numbers, that art had potential, but meant nothing if you had no background, and added nothing if you did.) The on-line talk on tiling was more than decent, but how that related to toys at the museum — and I means toys in a positive sense, was completely unexplained.
Also a suggestion, for when this gets fixed, have a much lower (and some kind of sliding scale) admission fee; at the prices we paid, it seems the museum only hopes to entertain legacy admits to college.
Also a suggestion, for when this gets fixed, have a much lower (and some kind of sliding scale) admission fee; at the prices we paid, it seems the museum only hopes to entertain legacy admits to college.
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
María G
Malaga, Spain1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Family
As a frequent visitor to museums in New York City, I was excited to explore the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). However, my recent visit left much to be desired.
Upon arrival, it was immediately apparent that MoMath was still under construction. The lack of completed installations and essential facilities made for a disappointing experience. It was evident that the museum was not ready to welcome visitors.
Furthermore, the incomplete exhibits and overall lack of amenities detracted from the educational potential of the museum. As someone who values cultural institutions and their contributions to society, it was disheartening to see MoMath fall short in providing a satisfactory experience.
In addition to the disappointing state of the museum, the overall atmosphere felt chaotic and unorganized. It was clear that MoMath was not living up to the standards expected of a reputable cultural institution in New York City.
Overall, my experience at MoMath was deeply unsatisfactory. I urge potential visitors to reconsider their plans until the museum addresses its shortcomings and ensures a more fulfilling experience for patrons.
I hope that my feedback serves as constructive criticism for MoMath to improve and better serve its visitors in the future.
Upon arrival, it was immediately apparent that MoMath was still under construction. The lack of completed installations and essential facilities made for a disappointing experience. It was evident that the museum was not ready to welcome visitors.
Furthermore, the incomplete exhibits and overall lack of amenities detracted from the educational potential of the museum. As someone who values cultural institutions and their contributions to society, it was disheartening to see MoMath fall short in providing a satisfactory experience.
In addition to the disappointing state of the museum, the overall atmosphere felt chaotic and unorganized. It was clear that MoMath was not living up to the standards expected of a reputable cultural institution in New York City.
Overall, my experience at MoMath was deeply unsatisfactory. I urge potential visitors to reconsider their plans until the museum addresses its shortcomings and ensures a more fulfilling experience for patrons.
I hope that my feedback serves as constructive criticism for MoMath to improve and better serve its visitors in the future.
Written March 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S S
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
Don’t go here. I am a New Yorker and I was so disappointed with this place. I feel like I donated so much money to this place. FYI, my children are very smart, particularly strong in Math (reason for our visit), but this is just not worth it. The place is so small and many geared toward very young children, despite what they tell you. I learned a hard lesson. Don’t make the same mistake!
Written June 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zag123123
New York City, NY2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Took a friend's 8 year old son who is on the spectrum. He is high functioning child who likes math and science. He had a great experience and we spent more than 3 hours there. The projects where challenging but not overwhelming for him. Space was open enough that I could keep an eye on him and let him wonder alone. Staff was terrific - they were patient while he was slow in forming his questions and answered them in a respectful and engaging way. We could have stayed longer but he got hungry. It was a Friday afternoon and not crowded.
Written June 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rajpal S
London, UK116 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Came here with the family (two young children). Concept is good and I get what they were trying to do, however multiple exhibits were not working. Several of the activities had missing objects/bits. Computer software they use isn’t great and doesn’t respond well to touch screen. This place should really be free until they fix and service everything. Overall, quite disappointing and poor value for money.
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dmt172
New York City, NY1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
I’ve wanted to visit Momath for years, and finally was able to fit it in during my most recent trip to NYC. What a disappointment! More staff then visitors, but they aren’t positioned near the exhibits to offer any explanation of how to do the interactive activities. And the signage explanations are pure garbage- so vague (but wordy) you’re not even sure they pertain to the exhibit you’re on. Many of the levers and buttons on the interactive exhibits were broken; other exhibits were roped off from use. The museum is pretty small; only 2 floors-, so when about 25% of the exhibits don’t work or are inaccessible, it’s noticeable. I’m not a cheapskate, but $26 per ticket is WAY too much.
Despite so many broken/inaccessible exhibits, I found it interestingly that all the admission scanners (on which visitors self-pay upon entering) seemed to work just fine.
Despite so many broken/inaccessible exhibits, I found it interestingly that all the admission scanners (on which visitors self-pay upon entering) seemed to work just fine.
Written November 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We took a Lyft from our hotel, so as to avoid the craziness of driving in NYC!
Written July 18, 2018
ccalamusa
Wall Township, New Jersey
How long does it take to go thru the museum?
Written October 28, 2017
It really depends on how much you want to engage with the exhibits. Each area can be explored in depth, if you want to understand the mathematics underlying the exhibit. If you really explored everything, it could take days! We spent three hours and felt we had seen a lot. But I imagine we could have stayed all day and found more to do.
Written October 29, 2017
Do you think that is better to buy the tickets in advance on-line or directly at the museum?
Written August 9, 2017
Either way is fine, generally, but if it's a special event, buy in advance
Written August 13, 2017
Do they allow drinks inside, like water or coffee?
Written August 7, 2017
Is this a good,interesting museum for a 5,9,11 yr old to visit? Do they have intreactive exhibits?
Written June 17, 2016
We were amazed at the level of knowledge the staff had at the museum. For my younger child, they would explain things on a more basic level, while for my older child when exploring an exhibit, a staff member would dig into a deeper thinking and introduce a more challenging concept. Highly impressed and 100% recommend it for all your children!
Written June 28, 2016
It's an amazing museum. It's basically for children, and geared for children, but I know that I truly enjoyed it. I did have my granddaughter with me.
Written March 28, 2016
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