By Elliott Morrow

Ever since the film “Night at the Museum” debuted in theaters, people have been jumping at the opportunity to explore and spend the night in museums. Luckily, 5 museums in New York offer the chance to live out the fun in the movie....minus a miniature Owen Wilson. The sleepovers are a great way for children to have fun with science, history, and other valuable subjects, as well as create an unforgettable memory. And, for the kid in all of us, adults get to live out a childhood dream with their family as well. These 5 museums fill up fast, so be sure to start planning early!

![Sleep under a blue whale in NYC](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/05/arts/artsspecial/12sleep600.1.jpg "American Museum of Natural History")

Naturally, this is the top of our list. This is the museum responsible for starting the craze. Guests are taken around the museum with flashlights to discover the T. Rex, live animal exhibits, the human origin exhibit, and much more. They then fall asleep in one of the main halls underneath a giant blue whale. Plus, near Halloween, they have the costume themed sleepover, just make sure your costume isn’t too realistic, or you might become an exhibit yourself.



Price: $145 each ($105 for members)

Time: 6pm-9am

Age: 6-13 (6-16 for scout groups), must have at least one adult to chaperone

![Live in the olden days](http://www.nycgo.com/images/460x285/14%20IndependenceDayatHistroicRichmondTown_V1_460x285.jpg "Historic Richmond Town")

This is a great way to learn about New York history by reliving the 19th century Staten Island Witch Trial in the very room she was tried in. The night starts at 7pm when children make their own candles to light their way throughout the experience. They tour the property while popping their own corn and churning their own butter. They then head to the room where the trial occurred and are told the story of the murder, and then they brainstorm to decide what the verdict of the murder was. The young guests sleep in the court room, and wake up to make Indian Flappers for breakfast before returning to modern day life at around 11:30am. This definitely won’t be a night they’ll forget.



Price: $675 for groups up to 15. $45 per additional child, $40 for each adult chaperone

Time: 7pm to 11:30am

Age: 8-12

![Sleep over in the Rubin Museum](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltderrp4uj1qcwn3jo3_500.jpg "Rubin Museum of Art")

The Rubin Museum is a little different than the others, because it also offers adult only experiences. The idea is to become closer to art, and to have your dreams be effected by your surroundings. In the last event, visitors slept under special art installations, were educated on the role of dreams in Tibetan Medicine, listened to lullabies, and had dream discussion groups. Many said it was the most interesting and eye-opening (or closing) experience they have had all year and want to do it again. Plus, they are always coming up with new ideas for amazing experiences if dreaming isn’t your thing. Unfortunately, the event is sold out for May, but check back soon because new dates are always popping up.



Price: individuals-$108, couples-$216 (as of last time)

Time: varies

Age: some events are adult only, while others are children’s events

![Sleepover at the Intrepid Museum](http://www.cityguideny.com/columnpic/intrepidsleepover.jpeg "Intrepid- Sea, Air, and Space Complex")

Children and chaperones board the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, a National Monument, and have fun learning about this important part of American history, as well as the many space and air exhibitions. Visitors examine artifacts, explore interactive exhibits, and even take a ride on the XD Theater Cosmic Coaster. Children learn about life on the ship, and why it is so important for the United States. Plus they get a goodie bag and tickets for the rest of the museum good for 60 days. If you want to get your sea legs, but aren’t quite ready to join the navy, this is a great option.



Price: $120 per person, $99 for groups of 15 or more (minimum 1 adult to 5 children)

Time: 6pm-8am

Age: 6-17 (ideal for 8-12)

![Sleepover at the Bronx Zoo](http://kidhattan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bronxzoo.jpg "The Bronx Zoo")

The Overnight Safari is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is still selling out every year, this should tell you something about how amazing this experience really is. Families learn all about the animals at the zoo in an exciting fashion with surprises along the way. The small group and late night activity make for a very personal experience and it allows visitors to see aspects of wild animals that they don’t get to see during the day. The Bronx zoo also offers summer camps and many other programs throughout the year if sleeping with wild animals isn’t your thing.



Price: $185 per person ($175 for members)

Time: 4:30pm-10:00am

Age: 5 and up

I hope you found something in this list you liked. There are animals, war ships, murder mysteries, and art, so how could you not? The most important thing is to book ahead! Many spots are already taken and it would be a shame to miss out, as children unfortunately don’t stop getting older. So if you have some free time this summer, and want to show your kids that the world around us is even more interesting than fiction, think about partaking in one of these unique experiences. Good luck!