New and upcoming exhibits at NYC museums for kids

Celebrate an Off-Broadway sensation with an interactive exhibit at MCNY! Learn all about your favorite blue New Yorkers who have been entertaining theater-goers with wild antics, paint and original percussion instruments. Visitors can give the PVC pipe a try, just like the Blue Man Group. Be sure to catch your favorite fellas at the Museum's Uptown Bounce event on Aug 7. All ages. 

Prepare to dig deep like a true paleontologist thanks to "T. Rex: The Ultimate Predator." The Museum of Natural History's new exhibit will give visitors a peek into how the massive creatures came to be. Patrons will get a good look at the new findings about the tyrannosaurs genus, with a special focus on our main man, the T. rex. Unlike what people may think—and what movies led us to believe—T. rex is simply one part of the species' 100-million-year evolution. Who knew that tyrannosaurs species actually include small, agile creatures? For real! All ages. 

Travel deep beneath the Ocean's surface to discover what lurks in the dark, cold depths of the sea with this special exhibit. Visitors learn about the new, cutting edge technologies like robotics, satellite monitoring, miniaturization, and high-definition imaging that scientists use to explore the ocean's vast realm. They can also see some of the new discoveries, like a new island forming near Hawaii and the behaviors of deep sea animals. The exhibit features mesmerizing displays, like a floor-to-ceiling array of biofluorescent species (animals that absorb and re-emit light) and a virtual ride in a submersible. All ages. 

Wonder what your like will be like in 100 years? Now, you may be able to find out! See what 2119 has in store for you at the immersive exhibit "Ocean Cube"—which depicts a futuristic 3D space of human beings who live under the sea. Glimpse at a life of riding jellyfish and napping on sharks backs in Coral Tunnel or Jellyfish Station. The journey begins with touchable 3D coral reef models and ends in a colorful, but polluted memorable bottle room—touching upon the current environmental problems we face. The pop-up is located at 60 Grand St. All ages. 

In an age where we rely on some type of device to fulfill a task, a group of international contemporary artists take a step back. "Useless: Machines for Dreaming, Thinking, and Seeing," is an exhibit that will feature a variety of unique pieces that ultimately puts utility in question. All ages.  

The New York Hall of Science will take you out of this world when summer begins—and you don't even need to get out of Queens! In honor of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the museum is delving into aviation and aerospace. Visitors can expect a group flying experience via motion-sensing technology, a simulated wind tunnel test, theater presentations and more. This exhibition is presented by Boeing and produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in collaboration with NASA and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Learn more at nysci.org. All ages. 

Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of Mexican history and culture through a new perspective thanks to arist Justin Favela. His piece, "Recuérdame," recreates popular landscapes with a unique touch courtesy of piñata-cut tissue paper. There will be a variety of additional family programming in conjunction with "Recuérdame." To learn more, click here. All ages. 

Batter up! NYC will mark the centennial of Jackie Robinson’s birth with a grand-slam exhibit. The collection of never-before-seen images, Look magazine spreads and personal memorabilia such as home movies will provide a glimpse into the life of the Brooklyn Dodgers MVP, all while exploring the media’s portrayal of the iconic figure. All ages. 

This summer, embrace patriotism with the New-York Historical Society's "Revolutionary Summer" exhibit. Patrons will journey back in time and take a glimpse at a replica of an outdoor Continental Army encampment, a replica of George Washington’s tent headquarters, view 18th-century artifacts and more. Visit the museum's website for a list of themed-programming for families, including a scavenger hunt, trivia and more. All ages. 

The New York Botanical Garden found a muse for its new exhibit. Through a display of drawings, paintings, textiles and other media, the venue will pay tribute to the work of Roberto Burle Marx, a Brazilian artist and plant conservationist. To accompany the exhibit, NYBG will also host a variety of programs—live performances of Brazilian music and dance, poetry walks and more—that celebrate Marx's work. All ages. 

Advertised as the "biggest, most realistic dinosaur ride in America," the new attraction shuttles families (with narration) through a wooded area packed with 40 ultra-realistic (read: gigantic) animatronic dinosaurs. One of the most notable features will certainly be the two towering Tyrannosaurus rex—as well as the vegetarian Omeisaurus that stretches an impressive 60 feet long. And to make things as realistic as possible, the Bronx Zoo teamed up with a paleontologist from the American Museum of Natural History—Don Lessem even served as an advisor on the original Jurassic Park! The experience is topped off with an ADA-accessible fossil dig area for kids to play in, plus some additional dino-themed activities around the zoo. All ages. 

NYC's museum dedicated to all-things espionage will soon shed some light on 007. The first James Bond exhibit in New York examines the creativity that went into bringing the movies to life. Car aficionados: You'll be pleased to know that Bond's Aston Martin DB5 will on display. There are also many interactive components to the exhibit: You can check out gadgets and gizmos in the Q's lab, get a behind-the-scenes look at how the Skyfall finale came to be and so much more. All ages.