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Suggest an EditVanderbilt Museum
About Vanderbilt Museum
Set on 43 rolling acres, this estate is a result of one of America's great fortunes. (The owner was actually one of the richest men in the WORLD!) At The Vanderbilt Museum you can take a step back into the history of the Vanderbilt family with a tour around their Gold Coast mansion, admire the pieces collected from a life of oceanic expeditions and circumnavigations in the museum, and get lost in space in the Planetarium.
William K. Vanderbilt II was the heir to one of America's greatest fortunes. As a result, he had a pretty incredible life!
The mansion tours take you around his historic courtyard and house, as your guide explains the history of its 24 rooms, and what life would have been like. Can you imagine living in a house like this? Pretty incredible!
The rooms are filled with antique furniture, paintings, and family photos and portraits so you can really feel like you are learning about the family personally.
Ideally for those over the age of 8, the mansion tours give you a fascinating insight into the life's of one of the wealthiest men in the world.
During his life, Vanderbilt spent many a year on oceanic expeditions and unprecedented circumnavigations of the globe. In the museum, you can travel around the world with him, without having to leave New York! Specimens from hunting trips from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Asia (and then some!) fill the rooms for you to enjoy and learn from. There is even a real 32 foot whale shark - the largest taxidermic fish in the world!
There are also artifacts that reveal the real artisanal talents of the various cultures around the world.
From the world, to another world, the Planetarium where the whole family can enjoy fun and educational programs, and you can even look into space every Friday night on the rooftop Observatory! What can you see? Can you see the craters on the moon? Or the rings of Saturn?
It's a fascinating step back in time with something for the whole family - and will easily fill your family day out with things to see and do!
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Suggest editHow much does it cost?
Suggest editAdults General Admission $10, Tours $6, planetarium shows extra
Children Under 12s: General Admission $7, Tours $6, planetarium shows extra
Free Under 2 years
Last Update 2023
Discount Seniors and students $9
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Vanderbilt Museum FAQ’s
I’m Hungry! Can I get food at Vanderbilt Museum?
They have a new café is located in the Planetarium lobby! They offer food including sandwiches and baked goods, snacks, and drinks on weekends from 12am-4pm.
Any top tips when visiting?
Make sure you check the Planetarium programs before you arrive so you can make sure you don't miss out on anything that you want to see!
Teachers corner
They offer fascinating tours for field trips, summer camps, kids programs and even outreach programs where they bring hands-on interactive exhibits to schools or community groups!
Is Vanderbilt Museum fully accessible?
They are able to offer transportation from building to building. The only parts of the Museum that are handicapped-accessible are the first floor of the Memorial Wing (natural-history and cultural artifact galleries) and the mummy room on the first floor of the Nursery Wing, and the Planetarium and Planetarium Theater.
A videotape of the Mansion tour is available on request for anyone who is unable access the house.
Any additonal information?
You can book just a Planetarium show or Museum Tour, but only at night when the grounds are closed. During the day, the price of general admission is built into the price for a Planetarium show or a Mansion tour. The nighttime prices are different than the daytime.
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