What Happened to Hayden Planetarium?

The Hayden Planetarium has a rich history rooted in public science education, first opening its doors on October 3, 1935, as the fourth planetarium in the United States. Funded by a $150,000 donation from banker Charles Hayden and a $650,000 loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, its initial mission was to foster a deeper appreciation for the universe among city dwellers. The original Art Deco building, designed by Trowbridge & Livingston, featured a 75-foot dome and a Zeiss II projector, which was later updated with Zeiss Mark IV (1960) and Mark VI (1993) projectors.

By the mid-1990s, with significant advancements in astrophysics, the original facility was deemed outdated. In January 1997, the Hayden Planetarium closed and was subsequently demolished to make way for a more modern and adaptable structure. This decision, despite some opposition regarding the original building's cultural memory, was approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The new $210 million Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space, housing the new Hayden Planetarium, opened to the public on February 19, 2000. Designed by James Polshek and Todd H. Schliemann, the iconic structure features an 87-foot spherical Space Theater seemingly floating within a six-story glass cube. Neil deGrasse Tyson, who became the Frederick P. Rose Director in 1996, played a pivotal role in overseeing this ambitious reconstruction. The new facility incorporated a customized Zeiss Mark IX projector and a digital dome projection system for real-time 3-D visualizations of the universe.

One of the notable events following the reopening was the Rose Center's controversial decision to depict only eight planets, excluding Pluto, in its exhibits from 2000. This move predated Pluto's official reclassification as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006 and sparked significant public and media debate in 2001. Since then, the Hayden Planetarium has continued to be a leader in public science education, regularly updating its immersive Space Shows. Notable past shows include 'Journey to the Stars' (2009) narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and 'Dark Universe' (2013) narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

As of September 2026, the Hayden Planetarium remains a vibrant and integral part of the American Museum of Natural History. Its most recent Space Show, 'Encounters in the Milky Way,' narrated by Pedro Pascal, premiered on June 9, 2025, celebrating the Rose Center's 25th anniversary. This show, which leverages data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, focuses on the dynamic movements within our galaxy and even led to a new discovery about the Oort cloud during its production. The planetarium continues to host various public programs, including 'Astronomy Live' sessions and annual 'Year in Review' events with Neil deGrasse Tyson, solidifying its role as a premier destination for cosmic exploration and scientific discourse.