A landmark in reference publishing and overseen and authenticated by the smithsonian institutions national museum of natural history, natural history presents an unrivaled visual survey of earths natural history. Like all smithsonian institution museums, admission is free. The natural history museum is one of the most popular museums in washington dc. The adjacent national museum of american history accumulates, preserves and displays a collection of artifacts related to the cultural, political, military and social heritage of the united states. Take a virtual tour through the smithsonian national. Visit smithsonian national museum of natural history. Several other popular smithsonian institution museums are located on the mall within a short walking distance of the museum of natural history. Building the national museum of african american history and culture presents the long history of efforts to build a permanent place to collect, study, and present african american history and culture.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover. More than 81 million artifacts are presented, including dinosaur skeletons, an enormous collection of natural gems and minerals, exhibits on early man, an insect zoo, a live coral reef and much more. The capital of the united states, the playground of politicians and presidents, is just as enticing for tourists who want to experience a slice of american history. Hotels near smithsonian national museum of natural history. If you are preparing to visit the smithsonians natural history museum it would be wise to read this book beforehand to get a comprehensive overview of the museum, its history and its collections. Located on the national mall within viewing distance of the u. At this family favorite museum, you will see a variety of artifacts including an 80foot dinosaur skeleton, a lifesize model of a blue whale, an enormous prehistoric white shark, and a 45andahalf karat jewel a known as the hope diamond. Smithsonian national museum of natural history, washington dc. Concern over how to care for the collections led to the provision for a museum as part of the smithsonian institutions enabling act of 1846. Stay minutes away at our hotel near the smithsonian museum of natural history and experience one of the most popular museums in washington. Look for exhibitions and affiliate museums in your community. Explore and learn about everything from the origins of man and the future of flight to the history of art across multiple continents with more than 150 million objects, works of art and specimens to discover. Visit smithsonian national museum of natural history on.
If you are preparing to visit the smithsonian s natural history museum it would be wise to read this book beforehand to get a comprehensive overview of the museum, its history and its collections. The overarching theme of the smithsonians natural history museum is less about history in the traditional sense and more about what it means to live on earth. The national museum of natural history smithsonian field trips sally ann lee. Official guide to the smithsonian national museum of. The sant ocean hall is the national museum of natural historys largest exhibit, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean. Dc campus in the veterinary hospital and the department of nutrition offices, and. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a weektoweek basis. Youll follow a trail of clues and answer tricky, humorous questions about what you find as you travel to china, africa, south america, the ice age, ancient oceans, and beyond. See some of the over 126 million artifacts housed in the museum including the hope diamond, egyptian mummies, and a living coral reef. From teaching curious museumgoers to adding creativity to the scientific process, art is an essential component of the science done at the smithsonians national museum of. The museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Box 37012, mrc 5 capital gallery, suite 6001 washington, dc 2007012.
Smithsonian national museum of natural history special. Discover the many wonders of the natural world at smithsonian national museum of natural history, the mostvisited museum in north america. Our museum is home to the worldfamous hope diamond and national gem collection, ocean hall, mammal hall, and the newly renovated national fossil hall. Located on the national mall in washington dc, this museum is the most visited natural history museum in the world.
Step into the past and be amazed by the natural world on this a 2hour private guided tour of the smithsonian national museum of natural history. Attracting over 8 million visitors each year, the national museum of natural history offers visitors a look at the natural world through collections of more than 126 million. Library room w346 contains roughly 16,000 items in its journal, book, and. National museum of natural history library smithsonian libraries. Creating the national museum of african american history and culture in the age of bush, obama, and trump. The companion book, what does it mean to be human was written by.
Book your tickets online for smithsonian national museum of natural history, washington dc. In 2003 the museum was officially established at long last, yet the work of the museum was only just beginning. Our english speaking guides organize private and small group tours to the citys most important institutions, like the national museum of american history and the air and space. With nice photographs and an easy narrative the book does a good job of evenly going through the numerous exhibits within the museum. The national museum of natural history smithsonian field trips. Virtual tour smithsonian national museum of natural history. Collectively called the smithsonian institution, this worldrenowned museum and research complex consists of 17 museums, galleries and a zoo.
The national museum of natural history offers digital resources for. The special collections department arranges, describes, houses, and provides access to the rare books, manuscripts, and special collections held in the dibner library of the history of science and technology and the joseph f. Smithsonian books acquisitions 600 maryland avenue sw, suite 6001 washington, dc 20024. Scavenger hunts at the national museum of natural history. The smithsonian national museum of natural history displays treasures of nature and of humankind. The institution is named after its founding donor, british scientist james smithson. To learn more about each venue, spaces that are available for rent, capacities of spaces and contact information, please visit each museum. The national museum of natural history is part of the smithsonian institution, the worlds preeminent museum and research complex. Entrance both entrances to the museum are now accessible. According to the museums site, it is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world. The museum of natural history is centrally located in washington, dc on the national mall. Ways to experience smithsonian national museum of natural history. Visiting the smithsonian national museum of natural history. Smithsonian national museum of natural history washington.
The smithsonian institution has 19 varied museums in washington, dc. Smithsonian museum of natural history information guide. Organizations and individuals can rent smithsonian spaces for their private event. Capitol, the smithsonian national museum of natural history is the worlds largest natural history museum. Seven ways to learn about natural history from home. The national air and space museum in washington, dc has thousands of objects on display, including the 1903 wright flyer and neil armstrongs apollo 11 spacesuit. Visiting the smithsonian natural history museum in dc.
Nearly all of the buildings on the national mall are smithsonian museums. National museum of natural history museum, washington. National museum of natural history, american museum of natural history, part of the smithsonian institution, located on the national mall in washington, d. Official guide to the smithsonian national museum of natural. The smithsonians museums may be closed in the wake of covid19, but you can still learn about natural history from your home. The smithsonian offers eleven museums and galleries on the national mall plus six other museums and the national zoo in the greater national capital area. View the vast collection of more than 126 million plants, animals, minerals, and human cultural artifacts, which are spread throughout dozens of interactive and themed exhibits. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. It was founded on august 10, 1846, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.
Smithsonian museum of natural history national museum of. If youre picturing a trex in the middle of the entrance, that is the natural history museum in nyc we have an elephant in the rotunda. The museum is open every day of the year except dec. Smithsonian national museum of natural history tripadvisor. Located on the national mall in washington, dc and sitting as part of the smithsonian institutions collection of museums, the nmnh has the largest natural history in the world. Hotels near smithsonian museum of natural history west. Hotel near smithsonian museum of natural history holiday inn. The national museum of natural history is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences. From animals, fossils and minerals to plants, human remains and cultural artefacts, this institution stands as the most visited natural history museum in the world. These collections are located within the nmnh entomology.
The museum works to support the continuance of culture, traditional values, and transitions in contemporary native life. Homepage smithsonian national museum of natural history. The postcards in this gallery provide exterior views of the building as well as images of exhibits inside the museum. The national museum of natural history nmnh first opened to the public on march 17, 1910, as the new united states national museum. What they agreed to in 1846 was a natural history museum and attendant research center, an institutional seedling that has since grown remarkably in size and scope. National museum of african american history and culture. The smithsonian national museum of natural history the. Official guide to the smithsonian national museum of natural history. African bush elephant national museum of natural history. The museums history explorer website offers many standardsbased online resources for k12 learners distance learning resources from the smithsonian include online activities tied to national learning standards and support for teachers and parents becoming us is a new educational resource for high school teachers and students to learn immigration and migration. Our museums, galleries, and zoo smithsonian institution. But, the national museum of natural history nmnh was someplace we could have spent days aimlessly wandering around. Giving a clear overview of the classification of our natural worldover 6,000 speciesnatural history looks at every kingdom of life, from bacteria, minerals, and.
The national museum of american history collects artifacts of all kindsfrom gowns to locomotivesto preserve for the american people an enduring record of their past. The national museum was first housed in what is now the arts and industries building. A speculative scientific journey among the exoplanets in search of intelligent aliens, ice creatures, and supergravity animals. Many of the smithsonian museums and the national zoo are available as unique settings for special events. Nmai is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the native cultures of the western hemisphere through partnership with native people and others. Human evolution by the smithsonian institutions human. The smithsonians natural history collections have their origins in the 18381842 united states exploring expedition, which circumnavigated the globe amassing cultural and natural history collections. Smithsonian national museum of natural history, washington. The smithsonians national museum of natural history human origins website is dedicated to bringing you the excitement, latest findings, and profound implications of the scientific exploration of human origins. Augmented reality dinosaurs at smithsonian museum of. Exhibits smithsonian national museum of natural history. The national museum of natural history is part of the smithsonian institution and houses a national collection of more than 125 million natural science specimens and cultural artifacts. Just to offer the scope of the national museum of natural historys size.
A largescreen broadcastar augmented reality system installed at the smithsonian museum of natural history, washington dc. The halls combination of 674 marine specimens and models, highdefinition video, and the newest technology allows visitors to explore the oceans past, present, and future. The national museum of natural history nmnh library consists of the main location on the 1st floor and basement of the nmnhs east court and 11 specialized collections throughout the nmnh building. In new york city, we invite you to tour two museums in historic settings. C the smithsonian institution began gathering specimens of natural history in 1838 and continued collecting by gift, purchase, or expedition throughout the 19th century. The wonders never cease on this whirlwind tour of the smithsonian national museum of natural history. The national museum of natural history nmnh library consists of the main. It is also a research facility dedicated to inspiring discovery about the. The national museum of natural history is a natural history museum administered by the smithsonian institution, located on the national mall in washington, d. Host your event at the smithsonian smithsonian institution.