During your visit to the New York State Museum, enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum’s ongoing and traveling exhibitions. At the Museum Shop, you will find items unique to the Empire State.
Ongoing Exhibitions
The New York State Museum’s permanent collection including 12 million specimens and artifacts that represent 170 years of research in earth sciences, biology and human history support the museum’s ongoing exhibitions.
The Adirondack Wilderness
See how the majestic and pristine region has and continues to transform by the interaction of nature and people in The Adirondack Wilderness. The story of the Adirondacks is told through the exploration of prehistoric wilderness landscape, wilderness in transition and contemporary wilderness.
Arts for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection
In Arts for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection, you’ll discover 40 uniquely decorated jugs, crocks, pitchers, jars and water coolers. These prime examples of American Folk Art were mostly created in cities and towns across New York State.
Beneath the City: An Archaeological Perspective of Albany
Learn about the fascinating results of several archaeological excavations that took place in Albany. Beneath the City: An Archaeological Perspective of Albany features artifacts related to the early Dutch settlement, a colonial rum distillery, the expansion of the city, and the daily life of past residents.
Ancient Life of New York: A Billion Years of Earth History
Natural history exhibition, Ancient Life of New York: A Billion Years of Earth History let’s you witness New York when dinosaurs were at their prime. See numerous ancient life forms from the museum’s impressive fossil collection. Additionally, the exhibit illustrates the important role Albany has played for the last 165 years as a center of North American fossil research.
Birds of New York
Delight in unique birds in Birds of New York. This exhibit boasts over 170 species of New York birds displayed in their environmental settings.
Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s.
Explore the rich and diverse culture of Harlem in the 1920s in Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s. The exhibit is brought to life through historic photographs, archival material, and audio and visual components.
Carousel
Take a ride on New York State Museum’s old Carousel. Made between 1912 and 1916 by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, New York, this colorful carousel is still in working order and enthralls young and old alike.
Cohoes Mastodon
In the museum’s South Hall is the magnificent mastodon excavated in 1866. Visit the Cohoes Mastodon and discover its history and the secrets of its life and death.
The M&T Bank New York State Museum Earthquake Center
The M&T Bank New York State Museum Earthquake Center explores earthquakes in New York State and around the world. Learn about seismic hazards in the Empire State and where damaging earthquakes occurred in the past and are likely to occur again. While one video screen displays earthquake activity recorded by the museum’s seismic station as it happens, another continuously updates with all of the small and large earthquakes that have occurred in the past week around the world.
Fire Engine Hall
Explore various examples of fire apparatus in Fire Engine Hall from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Each apparatus is unique in function and form.
The Governor’s Collection of Contemporary Native American Crafts
The Governor’s Collection of Contemporary Native American Crafts has been made possible by the collaboration between the New York State Museum and Native American communities. Delight in a collection of contemporary crafts representing the living culture and thriving art of New York’s Native Peoples.
Metropolis Hall
In Metropolis Hall, trace the history of New York City and the surrounding area. You’ll see a natural harbor transform into a bustling seaport, open spaces into canyons of skyscrapers and a wilderness into a city.
Minerals of New York
Get a glimpse of the New York State Museum’s impressive mineral collection in the Minerals of New York exhibit. The exhibit showcases a fourth of the New York State Museum’s enormous mineral collection and represents over 150 years of private mineral collecting and minerals from the state’s mines, quarries, road construction and outcrops.
Native Peoples of New York
Explore New York’s cultural history and natural landscapes from the last Ice Age to present day ethnology. Native Peoples of New York comes to life through lifelike dioramas, scale models, artifacts and a life-size longhouse.
Research Gallery
See what New York State Museum scientists and historians are up to. The Research Gallery in Adirondack Wilderness Hall highlights new discoveries in New York’s natural and human histories.
World Trade Center: Rescue Recovery and Response
In the World Trade Center: Rescue Recovery and Response, you can learn all about the September 11 attacks and its aftermath through the museum’s significant collection of material from the World Trade Center and objects from the international response to the events of September 11, 2001.
Shopping at the Museum Gift Shop
Located on the first floor of the museum is the Museum Gift Shop. Books, clothing, accessories, gifts, CDs, DVDs, plush toys and games unique to New York State are available to purchase.
- You can obtain a New York State Museum floor plan from the Main Lobby Desk to assist in planning your visit.
- Wheelchairs are available to check out from the Main Lobby Desk.
- The New York State Museum offers approximately 12 new exhibitions each year that explore New York State’s significant natural and cultural diversity past and present. Exhibitions are supported by the museum’s extensive permanent collections and traveling collections from renowned museums across the country.