Skip to content

Keep a little mystery in your trip planning: flip this switch on and Explorer Picture Mode shows a stylized version of every place instead of the real photo, so you can go by the description and reviews first and picture it your own way -- turn it off again any time, or reveal the real photo for just one place at a time from its own page.

Create a free account to pick your own style (Vintage, Oil Painting, Illustration, and more) and have it remembered next time you visit.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

7 /10
Editorial rating
/10
traveler ratings

Overview

Changed
This is the National Museum of Natural History which is administered by Smithsonian Institute, located in the National Mall in Washington DC. This is probably one of the museums where you can get to visit any day of the year except during Christmas.

It opens its doors from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm. These are the regular hours, but they offer extended hours of up to 7.30 pm on certain days. Its doors were opened to the public on March 17, 1910. Admission is free.

The museum has a collection of more than five hundred million specimens on
display. Apart from the exhibits the museum also has many reference and research materials. It is home to over 180 natural history scientists.

The following areas of the museum offer the major attractions for visitors;

• Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals: where you can get to see some of the most famous minerals and gems.
• Hall of Human Origins: where you get to learn about the origins of man kind.
• Dinosaurs/Hall of Paleobiology: get to see some of the animals that are now extinct
• Hall of Mammals: where the adoptability of mammals is on display.
• Insect Zoo: where you can see live insects on display.

Others include; African Voices, Ocean Hall, Partners In Evolution, Western Cultures Hall, Korea Gallery and Hall of Bones.

Quick Facts

    Visit Responsibly

    Changed

    Plan Your Visit

    Changed

    Admission: Free · Smithsonian museum, free general admission

    See traveler photos →

    Publishing will make these pending changes visible on the live page.