When you were a kid, did you ever get to sleep over in a museum? Whether it was through school, Girl Scouts, or some other organization, I’m betting that most of us had the opportunity to do so, even if we didn’t take advantage of it at the time. But hey, if you missed out, I’ve got good news for you: The American Museum of Natural History in New York is having an adults-only version of their Night at the Museum sleepover event on August 1. Because why should kids have all the fun?
At $375 a pop, it’s not cheap — but given everything that comes with a ticket, it’s almost certainly going to be worth it. According to the event’s page on the AMNH website, the evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a champagne reception and live jazz provided by the 12th Night Jazz trio. You’ll be able to take a flashlight tour of the museum with access to all of the special exhibits, including a special presentation with curator Mark Siddall in "The Power of Poison" exhibition (which, by the way, is excellent; even if you don’t get to experience a Night at the Museum, you should check it out. Seriously. So cool) and a visit to the "Spiders Alive!" arachnid exhibition.
You’ll be served a three-course meal and you’ll experience a midnight viewing of the Neil deGrasse Tyson–narrated planetarium show Dark Universe. You’ll bed down beneath the gigantic blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life — which will be sparkling clean for you, thanks to its annual dusting — before waking up to a light breakfast the next morning. Somewhere in there, there will also be an evening snack of fresh baked cookies, tea, coffee, and (of course) milk. Wowzers, right?
Said AMNH spokesman Brad Harris to the New York Post, “This is a one-of-a-kind evening centered in an iconic New York City location. We think this offers visitors an intimate adventure of discovery that is unlike anything they have seen before.” He added, “Imagine the looks you’ll get from your friends and coworkers when you tell them you slept under a blue whale and watched the birth of the universe and the formation of dark matter on Friday night.” So, y’know, full bragging rights apply.
The AMNH’s FAQ about the event has a list of things you should and shouldn’t bring with you, should you manage to secure a ticket; for the most part, they all sound pretty standard, with sleeping bags and pillows being a must and inflatable mattresses being prohibited. The one thing I’m confused about is the specification for “comfortable sleeping clothes (no pajamas).” Do sweatpants and oversize T-shirts count as “comfortable sleeping clothes?” Or are they “pajamas?” I’m hoping they fall under the “sleeping clothes” category, because otherwise, I have absolutely no idea what they mean. Maybe it’s just to ensure that no one shows up in skimpy negligees or tries to sleep in their boxers or something.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any of the exhibits actually coming to life à la the Ben Stiller movie franchise and the children’s book it’s based on — but that’s probably for the better. Find out more at the AMNH website — and report back to us if you decide to go!
Image: Gif Soup
