The Madame Tussauds New York is one of the top tourist attractions in New York City where visitors get to interact with life-like wax celebrities without borders. There are over 220 wax figures of famous people from all walks of life. With 85,000 square feet of space, you’ll enjoy hours of celebrity fun and entertainment. The experience is set up so that you feel as though you’re standing in the midst of the most popular Hollywood stars, legendary entertainers, and world icons.
The museum, located at the heart of Times Square, has no borders between you and the wax icons, so visitors can freely take photos with the wax celebrities, interact with the Marvel Super Heroes 4D stars, and get the full Broadway experience. It takes around 1 to 2 hours to take in all that the museum has to offer.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York - one of the highlights of 10 Best Family Things to Do in New York (Read all about New York here)
photo by Tdorante10 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
Highlights of Madame Tussauds New York
The museum provides a fantastic celebrity experience for visitors. You get to take close up pictures with over 220 wax figures of both living and deceased celebrities and politicians. Some of the wax figures include George W. Bush, Martin Luther King Jr, Barack Obama, Princess Diana, Beyonce, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Pablo Picasso, Simon Cowell, Taylor Swift, and others.
Test your spook-resistance by adventuring inside the museum’s most stimulating part, an incredible 4D theatre that offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy 3D and 4D film experiences. The museum also offers a taste of the spirit of New York City. You get to ring the bell of the Stock Exchange building and take close up pictures of the Statue of Liberty.
History of Madame Tussauds New York
The museum got its name after its founder, wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. The New York wax museum was not the first of its kind. The Madame Tussaud London wax museum was founded in 1835 by Marie Tussaud. Since then, other wax museums have grown in different cities such as Washington, D.C, Hollywood, Beijing, Nashville, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Shanghai, Bangkok, Amsterdam, New York, and others.
The Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York opened on November 15, 2000. Since its opening, the museum has grown immensely with more wax figures and exciting activities, like the 3D and 4D experiences. Every year, it attracts thousands of people, including adults and children. Cartoon figures, like Hulk and Iron Man, are featured at the museum.
photo by orge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Good to know when visiting Madame Tussauds New York
Children below the age of 4 are granted free admission to the museum. Take note that adult admission costs more than child admission. Visitors will have a full day at the museum, taking pictures and interacting with wax images of their favourite icons. Unlike other museums where you cannot get close to the pieces, you can touch and get as close as you want to the exhibits here at Madame Tussauds.
Other attractions you can see at the museum include the Marvel 4D cinema and mission games, which you can play with friends. The museum tends to be less crowded on weekdays, as massive crowds often come on weekends. Within a 6-minute walking from the museum are other tourist attractions, such as Broadway, Times Square, and Bryant Park.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York
Location: 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 212-512-9600