This weekend, I had an unparalleled experience. I spent the night with my son at the American Museum of Natural History. It was extraordinary. I became a kid all over again and by the looks of things, I wasn’t the only adult whose inner child was brought to life by the magic of the AMNH. There was something about the whole experience that was enchanting, and whether you were 7 or 77, there is no doubt that you felt like you were transported into Neverland. I don’t even have a bucket list, but if I did, this would have been up there at the top. I never realized how special it would be to wander through the over a century old, empty halls of a museum, by flashlight, in pajamas, after midnight. I’d like to meet the mastermind who came up with the idea of “A Night at the Museum “ and thank him/her personally, because honestly, it was perfect. The program is such a hit, that it is no wonder that they even have a version for adults without children. It’s pretty amazing that the museum offers people the occasion to really be part of this institution in such a meaningful way. As a result of attending this event, my son and I will have this kind of awesome memory that will go down there with some of the best.
The museum is an utterly special place, on so many levels. If you have never been inside the American Museum of Natural History, I highly recommend that you go. The museum has a unique and awe inspiring character. In 1993 it inspired author Milan Trenc to write the children’s book A Night at the Museum. Then in 2006 the Hollywood movie by the same name captured the hearts of children and adults everywhere. When you enter the museum, you can imagine why. It has an almost cinematographic feeling to it. As you move through the halls the history of our world seems to take on a life which is all its own. Being in the museum by day, when sunlight fills some halls and the of chatter crowds of people can be heard in each gallery, it is the way you would expect to experience a famous museum. Now, imagine the lights lowered, the crowd diminishes and you are in your night clothes, with a flashlight in hand. Wandering past each exhibit, you are drawn in. You become part of the magic. It is an extraordinary experience.
In the days leading up to our “sleepover,” I was buzzing with excitement. I felt as if I was about to embark on an adventure to the Galápagos or Easter Island, or some other adventurous destination. When the day arrived our bags were packed with a sleeping bag, flashlight, pillow, and toothbrush.
We arrived at the museum a little before 6pm and were directed to the check-in counter. There were groups of children with teachers and parents and kids grasping teddy bears. We were handed an agenda, and before we knew it someone was guiding us past the Rose Center for Earth & Space to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. She was just as excited as we were. She reminded me of a cruise counselor and it all seemed as if we were about to embark on an ocean-liner across the Atlantic. Within no time we spread our sleeping bags over our cots and marked our territory with stuffed animals and pillows. We tucked our backpacks beneath our beds and were off. Filled with great excitement we entered the butterfly exhibit. We journeyed about the museums awesome exhibitions, past dinosaurs, other fossils, and Native American artifacts. Then we gathered in a theater and watched an animal show with live pythons, alligators, hawks, and owls. After that, we hurried down to the cafeteria where we made friends with other hungry visitors. When evening snack was over, my son posed for pictures next to a bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt, and then we tiptoed past totem polls in the The Hall of Northwest Coast Indians. Then we caught the late showing of MacGillivray Freeman 3D movie, National Parks Adventure . Heading back to our spot under the whale was great. This was our little place for the night. Excitement was high on the scale. Girls and boys queued up with parents and group leaders at the bathroom. There, they changed into pajamas and brushed there teeth. At this point, the museum really felt like home. Story time was perfect. Images from the book A Night at the Museum were projected on a movie screen and one of the hosts read the story aloud. It brought out the kid in me. Next to me, parents shared smiles as if to say, “it feels great to be a kid again, doesn’t it?” We all felt the magic. The lights in the great hall lowered and children shined their flashlights across the great whale. Voices started to lower. The ceiling showed images of the surface of the sea that swayed above us. It really felt like being under the ocean in the midst of a tremendous sea mammal. I thought to myself, this is the largest room that I have ever fallen asleep in, and I have never gone to bed in a room with so many people. There was something magical about it. As our time to unwind came to its end and all flashlights were put away, even the faintest whispers subsided to silence.
I fell into a dream of ancient civilizations and prehistoric creatures. I slept deeply and peacefully. When the lights came up the next morning at 7 the room filled with the cheerful voices of children and all of us headed back to the cafeteria for breakfast. We said goodbye to friends we had made and found a shortcut back to the whale. There, we packed up all of our belongings. We headed out the main exit onto Central Park West and it had just finished drizzling. It was really amazing that for one night of our lives the American Museum of Natural History was our home. I don’t think I will ever see the museum the same way again. It has a deeper more sentimental value to me. My son said that he had the best time ever and he expressed how much he loves the museum. I was really grateful. Grateful that NYC has such a marvelous museum, grateful that someone had the genius idea to create a sleepover program, grateful that it was done phenomenally well, and more than all, grateful that my son and I had an opportunity to take part in it all.
The museum is an utterly special place, on so many levels. If you have never been inside the American Museum of Natural History, I highly recommend that you go. The museum has a unique and awe inspiring character. In 1993 it inspired author Milan Trenc to write the children’s book A Night at the Museum. Then in 2006 the Hollywood movie by the same name captured the hearts of children and adults everywhere. When you enter the museum, you can imagine why. It has an almost cinematographic feeling to it. As you move through the halls the history of our world seems to take on a life which is all its own. Being in the museum by day, when sunlight fills some halls and the of chatter crowds of people can be heard in each gallery, it is the way you would expect to experience a famous museum. Now, imagine the lights lowered, the crowd diminishes and you are in your night clothes, with a flashlight in hand. Wandering past each exhibit, you are drawn in. You become part of the magic. It is an extraordinary experience.
In the days leading up to our “sleepover,” I was buzzing with excitement. I felt as if I was about to embark on an adventure to the Galápagos or Easter Island, or some other adventurous destination. When the day arrived our bags were packed with a sleeping bag, flashlight, pillow, and toothbrush.
We arrived at the museum a little before 6pm and were directed to the check-in counter. There were groups of children with teachers and parents and kids grasping teddy bears. We were handed an agenda, and before we knew it someone was guiding us past the Rose Center for Earth & Space to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. She was just as excited as we were. She reminded me of a cruise counselor and it all seemed as if we were about to embark on an ocean-liner across the Atlantic. Within no time we spread our sleeping bags over our cots and marked our territory with stuffed animals and pillows. We tucked our backpacks beneath our beds and were off. Filled with great excitement we entered the butterfly exhibit. We journeyed about the museums awesome exhibitions, past dinosaurs, other fossils, and Native American artifacts. Then we gathered in a theater and watched an animal show with live pythons, alligators, hawks, and owls. After that, we hurried down to the cafeteria where we made friends with other hungry visitors. When evening snack was over, my son posed for pictures next to a bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt, and then we tiptoed past totem polls in the The Hall of Northwest Coast Indians. Then we caught the late showing of MacGillivray Freeman 3D movie, National Parks Adventure . Heading back to our spot under the whale was great. This was our little place for the night. Excitement was high on the scale. Girls and boys queued up with parents and group leaders at the bathroom. There, they changed into pajamas and brushed there teeth. At this point, the museum really felt like home. Story time was perfect. Images from the book A Night at the Museum were projected on a movie screen and one of the hosts read the story aloud. It brought out the kid in me. Next to me, parents shared smiles as if to say, “it feels great to be a kid again, doesn’t it?” We all felt the magic. The lights in the great hall lowered and children shined their flashlights across the great whale. Voices started to lower. The ceiling showed images of the surface of the sea that swayed above us. It really felt like being under the ocean in the midst of a tremendous sea mammal. I thought to myself, this is the largest room that I have ever fallen asleep in, and I have never gone to bed in a room with so many people. There was something magical about it. As our time to unwind came to its end and all flashlights were put away, even the faintest whispers subsided to silence.
I fell into a dream of ancient civilizations and prehistoric creatures. I slept deeply and peacefully. When the lights came up the next morning at 7 the room filled with the cheerful voices of children and all of us headed back to the cafeteria for breakfast. We said goodbye to friends we had made and found a shortcut back to the whale. There, we packed up all of our belongings. We headed out the main exit onto Central Park West and it had just finished drizzling. It was really amazing that for one night of our lives the American Museum of Natural History was our home. I don’t think I will ever see the museum the same way again. It has a deeper more sentimental value to me. My son said that he had the best time ever and he expressed how much he loves the museum. I was really grateful. Grateful that NYC has such a marvelous museum, grateful that someone had the genius idea to create a sleepover program, grateful that it was done phenomenally well, and more than all, grateful that my son and I had an opportunity to take part in it all.
Our Adventure Begins!
Museum's entrance, the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda
The 94-foot-long blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
Our Cozy Spots
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall
The Hall of Northwest Coast Indians
Antique tiles of the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians
The Hall of Biodiversity
Zzzzz, bedtime
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