American Museum of Natural History People & Civilizations Halls Must-see cultural time travel in NYC. Step into the past and across continents in the People and Civilizations Halls at the AMNH. Human stories come alive through artifacts, reconstructions, and history. It’s more than displays—it’s a conversation across centuries. Have you walked through 5,000 years of civilization in an afternoon? Find your path at the American Museum of Natural History.
Halls you’ll explore:
Hall of Northwest Coast Indians – One of the oldest museum halls in the U.S., showing the art and traditions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Kwakwaka’wakw. – Look up: totem poles and carved canoes show craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Hall of African Peoples – Learn about many African societies—covering agriculture, religion, music, and family life. – Don’t miss masks, ritual sculptures, and traditional textiles.
Hall of Asian Peoples – Travel from India to China, Japan, and beyond. – See a Tibetan Buddhist shrine, Himalayan village dioramas, and objects tied to trade, writing, and ceremony.
Hall of South American Peoples – See Andean cultures through gold jewelry, textiles, and tools from the Inca, Chavín, and Moche. – Learn how people adapted to rainforests and high mountains.
Hall of Pacific Peoples – Explore Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia with displays on navigation, ritual, and family. – A highlight is a 20-foot canoe from the Solomon Islands used for open-ocean travel.
