Explorer Reviews

This museum is poorly lit and has poor navigation signage. Explorer often doesn’t give clear direction because of shortcomings of GPS for this application.

Explorer doesn’t fully work. I loved Explorer at first but when you try to swipe right or left on certain pictures or tabs that have more information on them Explorer won’t let you swipe. It was really upsetting because we couldn’t see all the information provided, and when we read the plaques for the exhibit the information wasn’t on there either so we were left with major cliffhangers

Don’t waste your time with this battery-sucking piece of junk: Just pick up a map in the lobby instead! Explorer states that it doesn’t track you, but if you look closely it is on at all times, even when you close Explorer (apparently location services is automatically enabled at all times unless you completely disable everything, but the Explorer locks!). Junk junk junk!!!

The map is weird and hard to get at-a-glance of where you are and where to go. It’s oddly too detailed, and giant photos that obstruct things. Deleting.

Also, it’s tracking my location even when Explorer is closed, against my permission. Not cool, I don’t like invasions of my privacy.

App repeatedly crashes if I try to look my membership details with the “link ticket” button, and “member login” just takes me to the website...

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is a huge warren that's easy to get lost in. Fortunately, it is also full of helpful staff, security guards, tour guides, and just regular staff who are almost all happy to help and share their knowledge. Explorer makes it even easier to find your way around the museum, and has directions to some of the most popular exhibits, suggested routes for self-guided tours and the all-important directions to rest rooms and food service. Unfortunately, it isn't up to date; it directed me to a restroom that is apparently closed for an extended period for rennovation. You would think that it would at least be accurate as of the date of its release.

It is extremely useful for the casual visitor, but for anything other than highlights you fortunately still have that helpful and friendly staff to direct you. Explorer knows about a few dozen of the museum's most popular displays; my live tour guide said that the museum has 32 million artifacts in its collections, although only a small percentage are on display. But even that small percentage must be in the tens of thousands, and when we recently took a (free) tour our guide showed us many more exhibits than are covered in Explorer , and gave us more information on the items shown.

So, if you plan to visit the museum get Explorer, but also take a tour with a live docent.

When it never allowed me to link the tickets. That feature does not work

Good overview and detailed info on contents and locations. Useful guides for kids.
With museum wifi, navigation to specific exhibits in museum is difficult at best. Paper map was more useful.

As a mom with a toddler, Explorer is very useful. Instead of meandering, I can search for the topic of interest and head to the section quickly without hesitation.
This has been very useful when my daughter requests to see her latest obsession (giraffes, gorillas, squid, etc).
Only thing I thought odd was directions to bathrooms cut me through the museum shop on more than one occasion. I don't know if it was my locations at the time but it happened more than once where there was a more direct route.

Used this all day at AMNH, and what a breeze. The printed maps are always very general or not always current, and Explorer not only gives directions by most popular, by hall, and alphabetically, it gives pictures and information (plus you can check off what you've seen). With 4 floors of exhibits, shops, and food, we used Explorer almost nonstop. I don't understand how some other users could have such critical complaints - all you have to do is follow the instructions given on the tutorial (use the museum's free wi-fi, accept the tems at Safari - and that's it - took all of, oh, 15 seconds to be set for the day). No problems at all, and it's free and up to date - love it - thank you very much.

Explorer was so helpful, I can't even tell you. It helped me all through the day! I downloaded it the day it came out which I didn't even know. I saw the ad on there website and I'm like this may be a good app! So I downloaded it and yesterday when I went to the museum I could see and know were every exhibition was! This is the best app ever if your going to the museum and don't no anything. I would recommend Explorer to anyone! but there was a little problem when you try to gget directions to the central park west exit it will crash but then I just used the map. But you have made the user interface very nice! Overall it is a very nice app and will get you anywhere you choose just with a few taps then it's like a GPS!
THUMBS UP!!!

I’ve downloaded my share of museum apps since I frequent many museums. This is by far the best museum app I’ve downloaded. The best feature is indoor maps. Enable WiFi (you may need to connect to their WiFi) and Bluetooth and Explorer will show you your location within the museum. It will also guide you turn by turn to get to a specific exhibit/area to a museum. This is especially useful since the museum is cavernous and it’s easy to get lost. The tidbits of information about exhibits is neat too! Love Explorer!

Nice

I got Explorer so I could at all costs STAY AWAY FROM THE BLUE WHALE MODEL. Whales scare me so badly, and I needed to know how I could stay as far away as possible from it. But my family wanted to see it, so I walked with them up to where the exhibit starts, so I could not see it. Explorer helped me know how close I was getting to it, since it tracked my steps real time. It was spot on accurate to my location in the museum. I'm rating it five stars since it saved me from having a heart attack in public. Also the other stuff in Explorer works great.

Does everything I needed it for.

Gives all the things one needs in a single map. With turn by turn directions and information on all the stuff in the museum. Must download at your visit to AMNH.

It shows the places of every single exhibit and shows you how to get there. It also shows you where the bathrooms are (bless). Very helpful and usefull, would recommend using when in the American Natural History Museum in NYC.

I love it, this is really cool. I live in New York City but I can never get enough of this place. I didn’t know this was an option until I went today. I hope their cafe opens soon as I would like to study in this wonderful building.

I was trying to figure where the American Indians were for about 30mins before I downloaded Explorer . After I did it was a straight forward 11 minute walk right to the hall of eastern woodland Indians. I would highly recommend anyone to download Explorer if there visiting the natural history museum.

Explorer is really helpful. It gives you live map so you won’t get lost in the museum. Also it helps you navigate important things and gives you a brief explanation about that. So, download Explorer before you come to the museum!