National Museum of Natural History: Complete Guide (2026)

The National Museum of Natural History is the largest natural history collection in the world. The size of 18 football fields, it took me 3 entire days to see everything!

Highlights include the Hall of Human Origins; the Hall of Fossils; the Hall of Mammals; the Ocean Hall; the Hope Diamond; Egyptian mummies; daily tarantula feedings in the O. Insect Zoo; and the live Butterfly Pavilion.

➡️Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Top Exhibits You Shouldn’t Miss

With over 140 million objects in its collection, the National Museum of Natural History can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry – some exhibits truly stand out and are absolute must-sees. Here are the top highlights you shouldn’t miss on your visit.

a) African Bush Elephant

An iconic 11-ton, 13-foot-tall elephant has been on display in the Natural History Rotunda since 1959. It has become the museum’s unofficial mascot.

b) Hall of Mammals

The Hall of Mammals showcases 274 mammals posed from the floor to the ceiling. It explores how the animals adapted to changing landscapes over the last 225 million years.

The exhibition addresses such questions as: What is a mammal? Why do some mammals live in groups while others live alone? And how many kinds of mammals are there and what are their habitat preferences?

The exhibition also features the oddest specimens (including egg-laying mammals), the rarest specimens (an okapi from Africa), and the oldest known mammal (Morganucadon) from 210 million years ago.

The Evolution Theater features an 8-minute film surveying the mammal family tree. 

Animals of the Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is one of the hottest, driest places on Earth. Located on the African continent, temperatures average 122°F!

Food and water are scarce year-round. Despite the harsh conditions, over 90 animals have evolved ways to survive! Check out the below pictures to see how the Oryx and Fennec Fox survive.

Animals of the Africa Savanna

The African Savanna is a rolling grassland with scattered trees and shrubs. The savanna’s vast openness and long dry seasons challenge the animals that live there.

During the dry season, waterholes are critical for survival. However, by the end of the dry season most waterholes have shrunk or disappeared.

c) Natural History Museum Gallery Store

The Gallery Story sells unique cultural treasures from around the globe. This includes jewelry, gifts, books, media, and graphics. I bought a cherry blossom water bottle to drink hot tea at work.

The Gallery Store is open from 10:00am – 5:30pm and is located on the Ground Floor.

d) Natural History Museum Family Store

As the name suggests, the Family Store is geared to children. It sells engaging and educational toys, tons of fun, museum mementos, and dinosaurs galore.

The Family Store is open from 10:00am – 5:30pm and is located on the Ground Floor.

e) Hall of Human Origins

How are humans today different from other apes, primates, and mammals?

This exhibit shows how the characteristics that made us humans evolve over 6 million years ago as our ancestors struggled to survive during times of dramatic climate change.

Human Fossils

Scientists have discovered fossils of more than 6,000 individuals. More than a dozen species have been identified. However, only our species – Homo sapiens – remains.

Timeline of Human History

300,000 years ago, modern humans – called Homo Sapiens – evolved in Africa. As incredible as it sounds, they did not reach Europe until 45,000 years ago, and the Americas until 15,000 years ago!

And it wasn’t until 200,000 years later that they began making special tools for fishing and recording information on objects.

Check out the pictures below to view the timeline of humans on earth!

Homo Sapien History Movie

There is a 5-minute movie in the Hall of Fossils amphitheater called One Species Living Worldwide.

Early humans first appeared in Africa 6 million years ago. Then over hundreds of thousands of years, they began to move to Asia. It wasn’t until 200,000 years ago that Home Sapiens appeared. They are the ancestors of every human being alive today.

Stone Age Art, Music, and Jewelry

As incredible as it sounds, Homo sapiens created the below symbolic objects 60,000-30,000 years ago!!! Using natural materials and creativity, they combined animal and human features into fantastical creatures. And they created instruments for making music.

f) Hall of Fossils

The Hall of Fossils showcases the Museum of Natural History’s unrivaled collection of 46 million fossils.

Visitors journey through time from the beginning of life on Earth through the reign of the dinosaurs to the present. They get to travel through ancient ecosystems, witness the evolution of plant and animal life, and get up close to over 700 fossil specimens.

This includes early insects, reptiles and mammals, and dramatically posed giants like Tyrannosaurus rex, Diplodocus and the woolly mammoth.

Dinosaur Family Tree

Dinosaurs first appeared on Earth 230 million years ago. Then 165 million years later they became extinct. An asteroid struck Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It caused a decades-long winter that killed the dinosaurs.

Check out the below slideshow to learn how Dinosaurs evolved!

Fossil Lab

Fossi Lab is a laboratory that maintains all of the fossils in the Smithsonian collection. Visitors can watch through the lab’s windows as museum staff and volunteers.

Tasks include unpacking new fossil shipments from the field, removing fossils from rock and loose sediment, repairing and conserving fossils as they come off exhibit, and photographing/illustrating fossils.

Deep Time Exhibition

The Deep Time Exhibition starts at the very beginning. As incredible as it sounds, Earth was formed over 4.6 billion years ago!!!

After the Earth was formed, it took 4 billion years for life to get big enough to be seen with the naked eye. Mammals came into existence 205 million years ago. And Primates came into existence 56 million years ago.

When you consider that the United States is only 250 years old and the average life of an American is 80 years old, it pales in comparison.

Bone Hall

Compare and contrast the skeletons of flying fish, a massive sea turtle, snakes, a giraffe, monkeys, and many more vertebrates. Learn what skeletons tell us about how different animals live.

Dinos and More Store

As the name suggests, the Dinos and More Store features every type of dinosaur souvenir available. This includes plush animals, puzzles, and games. It is open from 10:00am – 5:30pm and is located on the First Floor.

g) Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt

For more than 3,000 years, ancient Egyptians embalmed, preserved and entombed their dead with materials they would need for life in the next world. Offerings to the gods to help ease the deceased person’s passage were often included in tombs.

The Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt exhibition includes 3 human and 16 animal mummies, as well as pottery vessels, jewelry, tools, and other artifacts excavated from Egyptian tombs.

h) Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals

The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals explores the secrets of our planet’s gems, minerals, rocks, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Examine meteorites that hold the mysteries of the formation of our solar system.

There is a difference between a Mineral, Gem, and Jewel. A Mineral is a solid, naturally occurring substance composed of one or more elements. ​A Gem is a precious or semi-precious mineral which has been cut and polished. A Jewel is a precious stone, typically a single crystal or piece of a hard lustrous or translucent mineral cut into shape with flat facets or smoothed and polished for use as an ornament.

The Hope Diamond

Since it was discovered in the early 1600s, the Hope Diamond has crossed oceans and continents and passed from kings to commoners. It was re-cut and reduced in size twice but has steadily increased in value. The Hope Diamond is currently an amazing 67 ½ carats.

Hope Diamond History

In 1673, French King Louis XIV had the blue diamond (not yet called Hope) recut, reducing it to 67 ½ carats. Then in 1792 – during the French Revolution under the reign of King Louis XVU and his wife Marie Antoinette – the diamond was stolen from the Palace of Versailles during weeklong looting.

The diamond’s whereabouts were not known for many years. Then in 1839 reappeared in the catalogue of a gem collection owned by a London banking family called Hope. (Thus the name “Hope Diamond.”)

In 1958 well known New York jeweler Harry Winston presented the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution.

National Gem Collection

The Smithsonian National Gem Collection consists of approximately 350,000 mineral specimens and over 10,000 gem specimens and is considered one of the world’s finest. Virtually all of the pieces are gifts from individuals. The gems now belong to the people of the United States.

More than 7,500 individual gemstones – ranging from less than a half carat to almost 23,000 carats – fill the gallery cases. Like all precious gems, each was cut from a mineral crystal that grew naturally within the Earth.

Famous Highlights of the National Gem Collection

Among the thousands of treasures in the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection, a few pieces shine with both beauty and history.

Mackay Emerald Necklace: It was gifted to the Smithsonian in 1931. This Art Deco masterpiece, designed by Cartier, dazzles with a 168-carat Colombian emerald surrounded by diamonds. It’s the largest emerald in the Smithsonian’s collection.

Carmen Lúcia Ruby: At 23.1 carats, this Burmese ruby is one of the world’s largest fine-quality rubies. Its vivid pigeon-blood red color makes it a true showstopper and a visitor favorite.

Marie Antoinette Diamond Earrings: These 18th-century earrings, once owned by France’s ill-fated queen, combine history with sparkle. Each diamond weighs over 14 carats, carrying both royal elegance and dramatic provenance.

Gem & Mineral Store

The Gem and Mineral Store sells extraordinary fossils, gemstones, mineral specimens, and science kits. It is open from 10:00am – 5:30pm and is located on the Second Floor.

i) Berns Quartz

When you enter the enter the Natural History Museum from the north entrance on Constitution Ave, the first thing you see on the right side is the Berns Quartz. The gigantic cluster of thousands of sparkling crystals is 7 feet tall and more than 8,000 pounds!

The quartz was discovered in 2016 at the Coleman Mine in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is named the Berns Quartz in recognition of Michael and Tricia Berns, whose philanthropic support brought the specimen into the museum’s collection.

j) Objects of Wonder

Explore the breadth, depth, and splendor of the world’s most extensive natural history collection. View some of the most intriguing, beautiful, and awe-inspiring objects in our collection.

k) African Voices

A history pathway down the center of this hall features 10 displays that will guide you through the millennia.

Your journey begins with the origins of humankind and ends with present day challenges. Learn how Africans have developed cities and empires, philosophies and religions, technology and trade.

l) Orkin Insect Zoo

There are more insects in more places on the planet than any other living creature! Although they outnumber us 200 million to 1, insects rarely harm humans beyond the occasional bee sting or mosquito bite. In many cases they even benefit us.

Come learn how over millions of years insects have managed to flourish everywhere from icy oceans to tropical rainforests, hot desert to freshwater ponds.

Get up close and personal with live insects and their many-legged relatives. Watch a tarantula eat lunch and hold a hissing cockroach. Learn about the diversity of bees, flies, and other insects.

Butterfly Pavilion

The Smithsonian Butterfly Pavilion is home to hundreds of butterflies, including those from the U.S., Mexico, Central & South America, Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia.

Visitors stroll among butterflies and beautiful blooming plants in a tropical oasis. Butterflies fly freely around the Pavilion, landing on plants and sometimes people.

The Butterfly Pavilion is open Sunday-Thursday from 10:15an-4:45pm. It is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. It costs $8 for Adults and $7 for Children. Tuesdays are Free. A Timed Entry Ticket is required to enter. Tickets are available ONLY on-site at the Butterfly Pavilion Ticket Desk.

m) Outbreak – Epidemics in a Connected World

Our world is more interconnected than ever before—by global travel and trade, by technology, and even by our viruses.

When people move into or change an environment, microbes that cause illness can “jump” from wildlife to humans and cause disease outbreaks that can spread internationally. Tracking down and responding to these outbreaks requires coordinated detective work from people in many professions.

This Outbreak exhibition invites you to join epidemiologists, veterinarians, public health workers, and citizens as they rush to identify and respond to infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola virus, influenza, Zika virus, and others.

Where to Eat Inside the Museum

Exploring dinosaurs, mummies, and gems can definitely work up an appetite! Luckily, the National Museum of Natural History has two on-site cafés with plenty of options for all ages and dietary needs.

The Atrium Cafe

The Atrium Cafe serves Butcher Craft Burgers, Flatbreads, Pasta, and a Chef’s Market Table. Located on the Ground Floor, it is open from 11:30am-3:30pm.

The Ocean Terrace Cafe

The Ocean Terrace Café serves vegetable focused entrees, grains, the reduced use of proteins, and seasonally available local produce. It serves fair trade certified coffees and teas, and espresso based beverages. In addition, the Ocean Terrace Cafe serves house baked pastries, desserts, and local crafted gelato. Located on the First Floor, the cafe is open from 11:30am-4:00pm.

Visitor Packing Guide: Permitted & Prohibited Items

Before heading out, make sure you’re packed appropriately as some everyday items aren’t allowed inside. Use this quick guide to know what you can and can’t bring into the museum:

🚫 Not Permitted	✅ Permitted
Firearms or ammunition	Strollers
Knives (including pocket or Swiss Army knives)	Cameras
Aerosol cans (pepper spray, Mace, etc.)	Mobility aids (canes, walkers, wheelchairs)
Scissors	Service animals (not emotional support)
Tools (screwdrivers, awls, etc.)	Bottled water
Placards, signs, or banners
Pets (except service animals)
Wagons (collapsible and fixed wheel)

Insider Tips for Visiting the National Museum of Natural History

• Arrive Early: Get there right at 10:00am to beat the crowds, especially for the Fossil Hall and Hope Diamond.
• Download the Smithsonian App: Handy for maps, exhibit info, and finding restrooms fast.
• Start Upstairs: Begin with Gems and Minerals and work your way down – fewer people take that route.
• Butterfly Pavilion is Free on Tuesdays: Tickets go fast, so grab yours early at the ticket desk.
• Focus on 3-5 Must-Sees: There’s too much to see in one go. Don’t try to do it all.
• Bagged Lunch? Eat Outside: No indoor seating or refrigeration for food.
• Great Gift Shops: The Gallery and Gem stores offer unique souvenirs, from fossils to fair-trade jewelry.
• Nearby Museums: Combine your visit with Air and Space or American History – both are just minutes away.
• Restrooms on All Floors: Usually near elevators or cafes.

Where to Shop

Whether you are after gemstones, dino toys, or a thoughtful museum souvenir, the National Museum of Natural History has a shop for you. Here’s a quick look at what each store offers and where to find them:

Store Name	Location	Hours	What You’ll Find
Gem & Mineral Store	Second Floor	10:00am-5:30pm	Fossils, gemstones, minerals, science kits
Gallery Store	Ground Floor, Evans Gallery	10:00am-5:30pm	Jewelry, books, cultural gifts, art prints
Family Store	Ground Floor, Evans Gallery	10:00am-5:30pm	Dinosaur toys, STEM games, mementos for kids
Dinos and More Store	First Floor, near Hall of Mammals	Hours vary	Plush animals, themed toys
Express Kiosk	Second Floor, near “Cellphone” exhibit	Hours vary	Quick, exhibit-inspired gifts

How to Visit the National Museum of Natural History

Getting to the National Museum of Natural History is easy by Metro or on foot, but driving can be tricky. The museum entrance is located on Madison Dr. NW between 9th and 12th Streets NW, while the main exit leads out to 10th St. NW & Constitution Ave. NW.

There’s no public Smithsonian parking, so public transport or ride-share is strongly recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons.

• Metro: Closest stations, all within walking distance of the museum, include:
  • Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)
  • Archives/Navy Memorial (Green, Yellow lines)
  • Metro Center (Red line)
• By Car: No Smithsonian parking is available on the National Mall. Limited street parking exists, but watch for meter enforcement times and signs.
• Accessible Parking: There are designated disability parking spaces around the Mall.
• Commercial Parking Garages: For stress-free planning, book a space ahead through ParkWhiz or use nearby garages like Colonial Parking at 10th & E St NW.

Check out my How to Visit the 16 Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. blog!

Where to Stay Near the Museum

If you’re visiting the National Museum of Natural History, you will want to stay somewhere central, close to the National Mall and other Smithsonian museums. These hotel options place you right in the heart of D.C., with something for every budget.

Budget Accommodation – Motto by Hilton Washington D.C. City Center

For an affordable yet stylish stay just blocks from the National Mall, Motto by Hilton is a top pick. Rooms are compact but modern, and there’s a trendy rooftop bar with city views. Guests love the walkable location and easy Metro access.

Mid-Range Accommodation – Hotel Hive

Hotel Hive blends artistic design with budget-friendly comfort. Located near the Lincoln Memorial and Foggy Bottom, this micro-hotel is perfect for explorers who want a hip and cozy base without overspending. Great pizza downstairs and a buzzing rooftop bar add to the charm.

Luxury Accommodation – Willard InterContinental Washington D.C.

For timeless luxury and historic charm, the Willard InterContinental is unmatched. Just a short stroll from the museum and a block from the White House, this legendary hotel offers elegant rooms and a rich history, including hosting Martin Luther King Jr. and countless presidents.

FAQs: National Museum of Natural History

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding “National Museum of Natural History” along with my answers.

Can I see everything in one visit?

Probably not! The museum spans the size of 18 football fields, and it took me 3 entire days to see everything. Pick your “must-sees” in advance (like the Hope Diamond or Fossil Hall) and consider a second visit if you’re a science or history lover.

Are lockers or coat checks available?

Yes, free self-service lockers are available near the entrance. They’re perfect for storing bulky bags or jackets, especially in winter or rainy seasons.

Is photography allowed inside the museum?

Yes, still and video photography for personal use is allowed, but with some restrictions. However, tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are not permitted. Media professionals must request permission from the museum’s Press Office.

Are pets allowed inside?

Only trained service animals are permitted. Pets and emotional‑support animals must stay outside.

Can I bring a packed lunch?

Yes, but you’ll need to keep it stowed. There’s no indoor seating or refrigeration for bagged lunches, and they must be eaten outside the museum.

You Might Also Like…