Named after 81st Street and the American Museum of Natural History beside it.
Naturalist Albert S. Bickmore devised the idea of the museum in 1861; the law creating it was signed on 6 April 1869. It largely fills what was once called Manhattan Square. Plans of 1928 listed a station at 79th Street, the museum’s main entrance; the station is at 81st Street rather than 79th to accommodate the museum, but has its own entrance into it.