Explore Natural History at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC

 Print This Post

One of the most popular museums on the National Mall in Washington DC is the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). On a tour of the Natural History Museum, you will see thousands of animal and plant specimens, fossils, rocks, artifacts and much more from every corner of the world.

There are two floors of exhibits to explore at the NMNH in Washington. This doesn’t sound like a lot until you enter the Museum. A beautifully preserved full-size elephant greets visitors stepping into the Rotunda entrance. You are then on your way to exploring as many fascinating exhibits as your time allows.

It is a good idea to obtain a NMNH map and visit your must-see attractions first. You can then tour the remaining exhibits at a leisurely, enjoyable pace. Everyone has their own ideas about which galleries are the best, but several remain perpetually popular and draw huge crowds every day.

One of the most popular attractions at the NMNH is the Hall of Mammals. Hall of Mammals gallery exhibits showcase more than 274 mammal specimens. Galleries are organized into North America, South America, African and Australian mammal exhibits, and there is also an intriguing “Family” gallery devoted to human mammal ancestors. You’ll see Kangaroos and Koalas, Grizzly bears, Bison, Giant Anteaters and many other large and small mammals at the Hall of Mammals.

The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals is another very popular and intriguing attraction at the Natural History Museum. Many visitors are impressed with the National Gem Collection and the stunning Hope Diamond which are exhibited here, but there are several other fascinating exhibits to explore throughout this Hall. Galleries devoted to Rocks and Mining, Plate Tectonics and the Solar System contain fascinating as well as educational exhibits.

Several exhibits at the Natural History Museum in Washington DC highlight human cultures. “Discovering Rastafari” is an intriguing temporary exhibit that explores the origins, religious beliefs and practices of the Jamaican Rastafari movement. Photographs, videos, artifacts and music are included in this unique and intriguing exhibit.

“African Voices” is a permanent exhibit at NMNH that explores the diverse and dynamic cultural history of Africa’s peoples. Historical as well as contemporary objects and various types of media enable Africans to tell the stories of their history and culture in their own words. The ongoing development of African culture is also explored in this fascinating exhibit.

There are many other Halls, galleries and exhibits that explore natural history and cultural histories at the NMNH in Washington. Whether you spend an hour touring one exhibit or spend a day visiting them all, your experience at the NMNH will be one of the highlights of your trip to Washington, DC.