National Museum of Natural History

About

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is among the most visited natural history museums on Earth, drawing millions of visitors each year to its iconic neoclassical building on the National Mall. Its collections span the full breadth of natural and human history: fossils documenting hundreds of millions of years of life on Earth, minerals and gems including the famous Hope Diamond, preserved specimens from every branch of the animal kingdom, and cultural artifacts from societies around the globe. The museum's research mission runs parallel to its public programming. Scientists affiliated with NMNH conduct fieldwork and publish findings across paleontology, anthropology, botany, zoology, and mineralogy. Visitors can observe some of this scientific work firsthand and engage with exhibits that explain how researchers study the natural world. For families and homeschoolers, the museum offers an extraordinary range of subject matter under a single roof — from early vertebrate life to human origins, from ocean ecosystems to gemstone formation. The Human Origins exhibit traces the evolutionary story of our species across millions of years, while the Sant Ocean Hall presents the largest museum ocean exhibit in the world. Interactive stations throughout the building invite hands-on engagement with specimens and scientific concepts. Admission is always free, and no tickets are required, making this one of the most accessible world-class institutions anywhere. The museum is a cornerstone destination for any family exploring Washington, DC.

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