National Museum of Natural History - wikipedia National Museum of Natural History This article is about the museum in Washington, D.C.. For the museum in New York City, see American Museum of Natural History. For national museums in other countries, see National Museum of Natural History ( disambiguation ). National Museum of Natural History Main facade Location within Washington, D.C. Established 1910 ; 108 years ago ( 1910 ) Location National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States Coordinates 38 ° 53 ′ 29 '' N 77 ° 01 ′ 33 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 38.8913 ° N 77.0259 ° W ﻿ / 38.8913 ; - 77.0259 Coordinates : 38 ° 53 ′ 29 '' N 77 ° 01 ′ 33 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 38.8913 ° N 77.0259 ° W ﻿ / 38.8913 ; - 77.0259 Type Natural History Visitors 6 million ( 2017 ) Director Kirk Johnson Public transit access Smithsonian or Federal Triangle Website www.mnh.si.edu The National Museum of Natural History is a natural - history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. In 2016, with 7.1 million visitors, it was the fourth most visited museum in the world and the most visited natural - history museum in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum on the National Mall was one of the first Smithsonian buildings constructed exclusively to hold the national collections and research facilities. The main building has an overall area of 1,500,000 square feet ( 140,000 m ) with 325,000 square feet ( 30,200 m ) of exhibition and public space and houses over 1,000 employees. The museum 's collections contain over 126 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artifacts. In 2016 it was the second most visited of all of the Smithsonian museums. It is also home to about 185 professional natural - history scientists -- the largest group of scientists dedicated to the study of natural and cultural history in the world. Contents 1 History 1.1 1846 -- 1911 1.2 1981 -- 2003 1.3 2003 -- 2007 1.4 2007 -- 2012 2 Research and collections 3 Exhibitions 3.1 Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals 3.2 Hall of Human Origins 3.3 Dinosaurs / Hall of Paleobiology 3.4 Hall of Mammals 3.5 Insect Zoo 3.6 Ocean Hall 3.7 African Voices 3.8 Butterflies + Plants : Partners In Evolution 3.9 Western Cultures Hall 3.10 Korea Gallery 3.11 Teleology : Hall of Bones 3.12 Q ? rius 4 Other 5 Gallery 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External links History 1846 -- 1911 The United States National Museum was founded in 1846 as part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum was initially housed in the Smithsonian Institution Building, which is better known today as the Smithsonian Castle. A formal exhibit hall opened in 1858. The growing collection led to the construction of a new building, the National Museum Building ( known today as the Arts and Industries Building ). Covering a then - enormous 2.25 acres ( 9,100 m ), it was built in just 15 months at a cost of $310,000. It opened in March 1881. Congress authorized construction of a new building on June 28, 1902. On January 29, 1903, a special committee composed of members of Congress and representatives from the Smithsonian 's board of regents published a report asking Congress to fund a much larger structure than originally planned. The regents began considering sites for the new building in March, and by April 12 settled on a site on the north side of B Street NW between 9th and 12th Streets. The D.C. architectural firm of Hornblower & Marshall was chosen to design the structure. Testing of the soil for the foundations was set for July 1903, with construction expected to take three years. Model T Ford parked in front of the National Museum in 1926 The Natural History Building ( as the National Museum of Natural History was originally known ) opened its doors to the public on March 17, 1910, in order to provide the Smithsonian Institution with more space for collections and research. The building was not fully completed until June 1911. The structure cost $3.5 million ( about $85 million in inflation - adjusted 2012 ) dollars. The Neoclassical style building was the first structure constructed on the north side of the National Mall as part of the 1901 McMillan Commission plan. In addition to the Smithsonian 's natural history collection, it also housed the American history, art, and cultural collections. 1981 -- 2003 Between 1981 and 2003, the National Museum of Natural History had 11 permanent and acting directors. There were six directors alone between 1990 and 2002. Turnover was high as the museum 's directors were disenchanted by low levels of funding and the Smithsonian 's inability to clearly define the museum 's mission. Robert W. Fri was named the museum 's director in 1996. One of the largest donations in Smithsonian history was made during Fri 's tenure. Kenneth E. Behring donated $20 million in 1997 to modernize the museum. Fri resigned in 2001 after disagreeing with Smithsonian leadership over the reorganization of the museum 's scientific research programs. J. Dennis O'Connor, Provost of the Smithsonian Institution ( where he oversaw all science and research programs ) was named acting director of the museum on July 25, 2001. Eight months later, O'Conner resigned to become the vice president of research and dean of the graduate school at the University of Maryland. Douglas Erwin, a paleontologist at the National Museum of Natural History, was appointed interim director in June 2002. The museum as seen from the National Mall 2003 -- 2007 In January 2003, the Smithsonian announced that Cristián Samper, a Colombian with an M.Sc. and Ph. D. from Harvard University, would become the museum 's permanent director on March 31, 2003. Samper ( who holds dual citizenship with Colombia and the United States ) founded the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute and ran the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute after 2001. Smithsonian officials said Samper 's administrative experience proved critical in his appointment. Under Samper 's direction, the museum opened the $100 million Behring Hall of Mammals in November 2003, received $60 million in 2004 for the Sant Hall of Oceans, and received a $1 million gift from Tiffany & Co. for the purchase of precious gems for the National Gem Collection. Aerial view, 2008 On March 25, 2007, Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and the organization 's highest - ranking appointed official, resigned abruptly after public reports of lavish spending. 2007 -- 2012 On March 27, 2007 Samper was appointed Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian. Paul G. Risser, former chancellor of the University of Oklahoma, was named Acting Director of the Museum of Natural History on March 29. Samper 's tenure at the museum was not without controversy. In May 2007, Robert Sullivan, the former associate director in charge of exhibitions at the National Museum of Natural History, charged that Samper and Smithsonian Undersecretary for Science David Evans ( Samper 's supervisor ) ordered `` last minute '' changes in the exhibit `` Arctic : A Friend Acting Strangely '' to tone down the role of human beings in the discussion of global warming, and to make global warming seem more uncertain than originally depicted. Samper denied that he knew of any scientific objections to the changes, and said that no political pressure had been applied to the Smithsonian to make the changes. In November 2007, The Washington Post reported that an interagency group of scientists from the Department of the Interior, NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), and National Science Foundation believed that, despite Samper 's denial, the museum `` acted to avoid criticism from congressional appropriators and global - warming skeptics in the Bush administration ''. The changes were discussed as early as mid-August 2005, and Dr. Waleed Abdalati, manager of NASA 's Cryospheric Sciences Program, noted at the time that `` There was some discussion of the political sensitivities of the exhibit. '' Although the exhibit was due to open in October 2005, the Post reported that Samper ordered a six - month delay to allow for even further changes. The newspaper also reported that it had obtained a memo drafted by Samper shortly after October 15, 2005, in which Samper said the museum should not `` replicate '' work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A few weeks later, a NOAA climate researcher advised a superior that the delay was due to `` the debate within the administration and the science community over the existence and cause of global warming ''. During the delay, Samper asked high - level officials in other government agencies and departments to review the script for the exhibit, ordered his museum staff to make additionals changes, and rearranged the sequence of the exhibit panels so that the discussion of climate change was not immediately encountered by museum visitors. Shortly before the exhibit opened in April 2006, officials at NOAA and the United States Department of Commerce expressed to their superiors their opinion that the exhibit had been changed to accommodate political concerns. In an interview with The Washington Post in November 2007, Samper said he felt the exhibit displayed a scientific certainty that did not exist, and expressed his belief that the museum should present evidence on both sides and let the public make up its own mind. Inside the rotunda The controversy became more heated after the press reported that Samper gave permission for the museum to accept a $5 million donation from American Petroleum Institute that would support the museum 's soon - to - be-opened Hall of Oceans. Two members of the Smithsonian Institution 's Board of Regents ( which had final say on accepting the donation ) questioned whether the donation was a conflict of interest. Before the board could consider the donation, the donor withdrew the offer. Risser resigned as acting director of the museum on January 22, 2008, in order to return to his position at the University of Oklahoma. No new acting director was named at that time. Six weeks later, the Smithsonian regents chose Georgia Tech president G. Wayne Clough as the new Secretary. Samper stepped down to return to his position as Director of the National Museum of Natural History. The remainder of Samper 's tenure at the museum proved less controversial. In June 2008, the Victoria and Roger Sant family donated $15 million to endow the new Ocean Hall at the museum. The museum celebrated the 50th anniversary of its acquisition of the Hope Diamond in August 2009 by giving the gemstone its own exhibit and a new setting. In March 2010, the museum opened its $21 million human evolution hall. In January 2012, Samper said he was stepping down from the National Museum of Natural History to become president and chief executive officer of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Two months later, the museum announced it had received a $35 million gift to renovate its dinosaur hall, and a month later the Sant family donated another $10 million to endow the director 's position. On July 25, 2012 Kirk Johnson, vice president of research and collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, was named Samper 's successor effective October 29, 2012. Johnson oversees a museum with 460 employees and a $68 million budget. Research and collections The Smithsonian gives an approximate number for artifacts and specimens of 127.3 million. More specifically, the collections include 30 million insects, 4.5 million plants preserved in the Museum 's herbarium, and 7 million fish stored in liquid - filled jars. Of the 2 million cultural artifacts, 400,000 are photographs housed in the National Anthropological Archives. Through an off - site active loan and exchange program, the museum 's collections can be accessed. As a result, 3.5 million specimens are out on loan every year. The rest of the collections not on display are stored in the non-public research areas of the museum and at the Museum Support Center, located in Suitland, MD. Other facilities include a marine science center in Ft. Pierce, Florida and field stations in Belize, Alaska, and Kenya. Research in the museum is divided into seven departments : anthropology, botany, entomology, invertebrate zoology, mineral sciences, paleobiology, vertebrate zoology. One collection of nearly a million specimens of birds, reptiles, and mammals kept at the museum has been maintained by the Biological Survey unit of the U.S. Geological Survey. This division had started in 1885 as an economic ornithology unit of the Agriculture Department. Clarence Birdseye and Clinton Hart Merriam had worked in this organization. As of February 2018, the unit 's funding is planned to be cut, and it is not clear what would happen to the collection. Exhibitions Hall of Geology, gems, and minerals The Star of Asia, a large, 330 - carat cabochon - cut star sapphire in the U.S. National Gem Collection The Hope Diamond The National Gem and Mineral Collection is one of the most significant collections of its kind in the world. The collection includes some of the most famous pieces of gems and minerals including the Hope Diamond and the Star of Asia Sapphire, one of the largest sapphires in the world. There are currently over 15,000 individual gems in the collection, as well as 350,000 minerals and 300,000 samples of rock and ore specimens. Additionally, the Smithsonian 's National Gem and Mineral Collection houses approximately 35,000 meteorites, which is considered to be one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in the world. The collection is displayed in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, one of the many galleries in the Museum of Natural History. Some of the most important donors, besides Hooker, are Washington A. Roebling, the man who built the Brooklyn Bridge, who gave 16,000 specimens to the collection ; Frederick A. Canfield, who donated 9,000 specimens to the collection ; and Dr. Isaac Lea, who donated the basis of the museum 's collection of 1312 gems and minerals. Hall of Human Origins Rick Potts, head of Smithsonian Human Origins project The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins opened on March 17, 2010, marking the museum 's 100th anniversary. The hall is named for David H. Koch, who contributed $15 million to the $20.7 million exhibit. The Hall is `` dedicated to the discovery and understanding of human origins, '' and occupies 15,000 square feet ( 1,400 m ) of exhibit space. Specimens include 75 replica skulls, an interactive human family tree that follows six million years of evolution, and a Changing the World gallery that focuses on issues surrounding climate change and humans ' impact on the world. The Hall 's core concept idea is `` What Does It Mean To Be Human '', and focuses on milestones of Human Evolution such as Walking Upright, Bigger Brains, and Creating a World of Symbols. Also covered is the Smithsonian 's significant research on the geological and climate changes which occurred in East Africa during significant periods of Human Evolution. The exhibit highlights an actual fossil Neanderthal and replicas created by famed paleoartist, John Gurche. The exhibit has been criticized for downplaying the significance of human - caused global warming. The exhibit also provides a complementary web site, which provides diaries and podcasts directly from related fields of research. The Companion Book, What Does It Mean To Be Human was written by Richard ( Rick ) Potts, the Curator, and Christopher Sloan. The exhibit was designed by Reich + Petch. Dinosaurs / Hall of paleobiology Skeleton of Brontotherium The revised skeleton of Triceratops Play media A FossiLab volunteer uses lab equipment to sift through collected sediments for bone particles at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The museum has over 570,000 catalogued reptiles from around the world. The National Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles has increased 300 percent since 1970 to over 570,000 specimen records in 2008. The Hall of Dinosaurs has fossilized skeletons and cast models, including Tyrannosaurus rex cast facing a Triceratops cast. The Triceratops exhibit shows the first accurate dinosaur skeleton in virtual motion, achieved through the use of scanning and digital technology. '' The collection consists of 46 `` complete and important specimens '' of dinosaurs. In May 2012, billionaire David H. Koch donated $35 million toward the cost of a $45 million upgrade to the 30 - year - old, 25,000 square feet ( 2,300 m ) dinosaur hall. The hall is anticipated to close in the spring of 2014 and reopen in 2019. In June 2013, the Smithsonian obtained a 50 - year lease on a T. rex fossil skeleton owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It is the first T. rex skeleton to be displayed at the museum, which until now has only had the cast of a skull. The specimen, known as the `` Wankel '' or `` Devil '' rex, was found on Corps - owned land in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana in 1988. It has since been on display at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana ( which helped excavate the fossil ). The `` Wankel rex '' ( whose skeleton is 85 percent complete ) was to be unveiled at the Museum of Natural History on National Fossil Day, October 16, 2013, and was supposed to be on display until the dinosaur hall exhibit closes for renovation in the spring of 2014. The 35 - foot ( 11 m ) long skeleton will be the centerpiece of the dinosaur hall when it re-opens in 2019. The Museum of the Rockies ( which did not own the skeleton but was the repository for it ) has about a dozen T. rex specimens, including one which is eighty percent complete. Only about six museums in the United States have a T. rex skeleton. The Museum of the Rockies is a Smithsonian affiliate museum, and had long promised to find a T. rex for the Smithsonian to display. Due to the 2013 federal government shutdown, the fossil did not arrive in Washington, D.C. Smithsonian officials said it remained in storage in Montana, and would not arrive at the Smithsonian until late spring 2014. Packed up in 16 crates, the T. rex, named `` Nation 's T. rex '' by the Smithsonian, traveled from the Museum of the Rockies and arrived at the National Museum of Natural History on April 15, 2014. The T. rex has been displayed in the Rex Room, while specialists performed a conservation assessment and the Smithsonian Digitization Program scanned each bone, to create a 3 - D model for research. The Nation 's T. rex will be the centerpiece of the new fossil hall, opening in 2019. Hall of Mammals The Behring Hall of Mammals was designed by Reich + Petch. The mammal specimens are presented as works of modern art within minimal environmentals. Visitors discover mammal 's evolutionary adaptions to hugely diverse contexts, and ultimately discover that they too are mammals. The museum has the largest collection of vertebrate specimens in the world, nearly twice the size of the next largest mammal collections, including historically important collections from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its collection was initiated by C. Hart Merriam and the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( later the Department of the Interior ), which expanded it in the 1890s - 1930s. Insect zoo The O. Orkin Insect Zoo features live insects and exhibits about insects and entomologists. Different habitats have been created to show the type of insects that live in different environments and how they have adapted to a freshwater pond, house, mangrove swamp, desert, and rain forest. The zoo is sponsored by Orkin, a pest control company. Ocean Hall Ocean Hall The Sant Ocean Hall opened on September 27, 2008, and is the largest renovation of the museum since it opened in 1910. The hall includes 674 marine specimens and models drawn from the over 80 million specimens in the museum 's total collection, the largest in the world. The hall is named for the Roger Sant family, who donated $15 million to endow the new hall and other related programs. The collection includes : a coelenterate - long North Atlantic Right Whale, a 1,500 - gallon aquarium, one female giant squid displayed in the center of the hall and a male displayed off to the side, an adult coelenterate, and a Basilosaurus. The museum also provides the Smithsonian Ocean Portal, a complementary web site which provides regularly updated, original content from the museum 's research, collections, and Sant Ocean Hall as well as content provided by more than 20 collaborating organizations, including Archive, Census of Marine Life, Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Encyclopedia of Life, INDUCT, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, National Geographic, NOAA, New England Aquarium, Ocean Conservancy, Oceania, Pew Charitable Trusts, Sea Web, Save Our Seas, Scrips Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, World Heritage Marine Programmer. African voices This exhibit and associated website `` examines the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa 's peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment. '' Butterflies + plants : partners in Evolution Featuring a live butterfly pavilion allows `` visitors to observe the many ways in which butterflies and other animals have evolved, adapted, and diversified together with their plant partners over tens of millions of years. '' The exhibit was designed by Reich + Petch. Western cultures Hall `` This hall explores some examples from various cultures in the western world including northern Iraq, ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and the recent discovery of the Iceman, a Copper Age mummy found in an Italian glacier. '' This exhibit closed September 26, 2010. Korea gallery The Korea Gallery is a special showcase to celebrate Korean traditions and examine its unique influence and complex role in the world today. The exhibit expresses the continuity of the past by highlighting enduring features of Korean culture that have influence and resonance today. The exhibit uses the Smithsonian ceramics collection as well as a rich selection of photographs, ritual objects and traditional Korean carpentry to communicate and connect to both the local Korean community and an international audience. Traditional art forms, such as ceramics and calligraphy, along with mythological figures, language, large feature photographs and illustrations speak to a range of shared historical memories that connect Koreans at home and abroad. Personal stories of modern Koreans, as told in their own voices, provide a context to discuss some of the many issues that face the divided country today. Korea 's incredible transformation from ' The Hermit Kingdom ' to a world power is traced through its impact on the arts, the economy and popular culture. The exhibit was designed by Reich + Petch. Teleology : Hall of Bones This exhibit displays a `` variety of vertebrate skeletons grouped by their evolutionary relationships. '' Q ? rius Opened since 2013, this exhibit is the museum 's interactive and educational area. Using, microscopes and touch screens, the area hosts various interactive activities and puzzles visitors can experience and contains a `` collection zone '' that houses over 6000 different specimens and artifacts visitors are able personally handle. The area also hosts various events such as allowing visitors to meet and discuss with Smithsonian scientists and hosting school groups. Other The Discovery Room, a family - and student - friendly hands - on activity room on the first floor. In the lower level, there is a bird exhibit, Urban Bird Habitat Garden, with all the migratory and native birds to Washington D.C. The Global Volcanism Program is housed in the department of Mineral Sciences. The museum frequently hosts sleepovers through the Smithsonian Associates for children ages 8 -- 12. Gallery Hall of Dinosaurs Hall of Mammals Hall of Mammals In popular culture In Fallout 3, a derelict exhibit at the museum serves as the entrance to Underworld, a civilization established by ghouls. In the 2008 film Get Smart, the fictional spy organization CONTROL is located underneath the National Museum of Natural History. The giant squid from the National Museum of Natural History inspired the octopus that comes to life in 20th Century Fox 's film Night at the Museum : Battle of the Smithsonian. The exteriors of the Museum were used as a model for the `` Leyendecker Museum '' in the Sierra On - Line 1991 adventure game The Dagger of Amon Ra. References Jump up ^ `` Visitor Statistics ''. Smithsonian Newsdesk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` The World 's most popular museums '', CNN.com, 22 June 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Research & Collections ''. National Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012. Jump up ^ D'Angelis, p. 35. Jump up ^ Evelyn, Dickson, and Ackerman, p. 107. Jump up ^ `` Plans for Museum Building. '' Washington Post. July 6, 1902. ^ Jump up to : `` New Building for Museum. '' Washington Post. January 30, 1903. Jump up ^ `` Site of New National Museum. '' Washington Post. March 7, 1903. ^ Jump up to : `` New Museum Plans. '' Washington Post. April 13, 1903. Jump up ^ `` Museum Building Design. '' Washington Post. May 24, 1903. Jump up ^ `` This Day in Smithsonian History - March ''. Siarchives.si.edu. Archived from the original on 2010 - 06 - 08. Retrieved 2010 - 04 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Museum History ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2009 - 07 - 26. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 15. Jump up ^ Bache, Rene. `` America 's $3,500,000 National Museum, Just Completed, Most Remarkable Structure of Its Kind in the World. '' Washington Post. March 6, 1910. ^ Jump up to : Trescott, Jacqueline. `` Smithsonian Taps Biologist For Natural History Museum. '' Washington Post. January 30, 2003. Jump up ^ `` Smithsonian Selects Fri for Natural History Post. '' Orlando Sentinel. March 21, 1996. ^ Jump up to : Olson, Elizabeth. `` A Biologist Will Lead Smithsonian Museum. '' New York Times. January 30, 2003. Jump up ^ `` Washington : New Museum Director. '' New York Times. July 26, 2001. Jump up ^ Wiltz, Teresa. `` Smithsonian Losing a Sixth Key Director. '' Washington Post. April 4, 2002. Jump up ^ `` Interim Chief Named At Natural History. '' Washington Post. June 6, 2002. ^ Jump up to : `` Biologist Named to Head Smithsonian Natural History Museum. '' Associated Press. January 29, 2003. Jump up ^ Epstein, Edward. `` East Bay Developer Pumps Millions Into Smithsonian Project. '' San Francisco Chronicle. November 15, 2003. Jump up ^ Trescott, Jacqueline. `` Museum to Get $60 Million Exhibit. '' Washington Post. September 16, 2004. Jump up ^ `` Tiffany Makes $1.1 Million Gift to Smithsonian Museum. '' Associated Press. June 7, 2006. Jump up ^ Zongker, Brett. `` Smithsonian 's Top Official Resigns. '' Associated Press. March 26, 2007. Jump up ^ Pogrebin, Robin. `` Smithsonian Scrambles to Regain Its Footing. '' New York Times. April 4, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Acting Director Named at Smithsonian 's Natural History Museum. '' Associated Press. March 30, 2007. ^ Jump up to : Grimaldi, James V. and Trescott, Jacqueline. `` Scientists Fault Climate Exhibit Changes. '' Washington Post. November 16, 2007. Jump up ^ Zongker, Brett. `` Smithsonian Toned Down Exhibit on Arctic. '' Associated Press. May 21, 2007. Jump up ^ Pogrebin, Robin. `` Gift to Smithsonian Is Rescinded. '' New York Times. November 17, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Head of Smithsonian 's Natural History Museum Returning to OU. '' Associated Press. January 23, 2008. Jump up ^ `` GIT President to Head Smithsonian. '' United Press International. March 15, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Couple Gives $15 M for Smithsonian Ocean Hall. '' Associated Press. June 26, 2008. Jump up ^ Schmid, Randolph E. `` Hope Diamond to Get New Setting for Anniversary. '' Associated Press. August 19, 2009. Jump up ^ Zongker, Brett. `` Smithsonian Opens $21 M Human Evolution Hall. '' Associated Press. March 17, 2010 ; Brotherton, Elizabeth. `` Natural History Details Origin of Our Species. '' Roll Call. March 22, 2010. Jump up ^ Zongker, Brett. `` Head of Smithsonian Natural History Museum Resigns. '' Associated Press. January 23, 2012. Jump up ^ Trescott, Jacqueline. `` Natural History Museum Gets $35 Million Gift. '' Washington Post. May 4, 2012 ; `` Koch Gives Smithsonian $35 M for New Dinosaur Hall. '' Associated Press. May 3, 2012. Jump up ^ Trescott, Jaqcqueline. `` Sants Give $10 Million to Natural History Museum. '' Washington Post. June 27, 2012. Jump up ^ Parker, Lonnae O'Neal. `` Smithsonian Names New Director of Natural History Museum. '' Washington Post. July 26, 2012 ; Zongker, Brett. `` Smithsonian Picks Paleontologist to Lead DC Museum. '' Associated Press. July 26, 2012. Jump up ^ Kamen, Al. `` Meet the Smithsonian 's Fossil Guy. '' Washington Post. August 20, 2013. Archived July 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 2013 - 08 - 20. ^ Jump up to : `` NMNH Fact Sheet ''. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` About the Museum ''. National Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Museum Support Center Library ''. Smithsonian Libraries. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012. Jump up ^ Juliet Eilperin. Trump has long vowed to slash government Archived 2018 - 03 - 11 at the Wayback Machine... Washington Post. 26 Feb 2018 ^ Jump up to : Hevesi, Dennis ( 2008 - 04 - 06 ). `` George Switzer, 92, Dies ; Started a Gem Treasury ''. New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013 - 12 - 20. Retrieved 2008 - 04 - 09. Jump up ^ Klein, Julia M. ( May 11, 2010 ). `` Our Species Rediscovers Its Cousin ''. Wall Street Journal. Jump up ^ `` Smithsonian Opens Human Evolution Hall ''. CBS News. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014. Jump up ^ O'Sullivan, Michael ( March 19, 2010 ). `` Smithsonian 's Natural History Museum opens its Hall of Human Origins ''. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014. Jump up ^ Rothstein, Edward ( March 18, 2010 ). `` Searching the Bones of Our Shared Past ''. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014. Jump up ^ `` Polluter - Funded Evolution & Climate Exhibit at the Smithsonian ''. National Wildlife Federation. Archived from the original on 2014 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ Mayer, Jane ( August 30, 2010 ). `` Covert Operations : The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama ''. The New Yorker. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2015. Jump up ^ `` New Exhibition Hall Devoted to Human Origins Opens at National Museum of Natural History ''. National Museum of Natural History. March 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Vertebrate Zoology : Division of Amphibians & Reptiles ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008 - 10 - 21. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` New and Improved ''. National Geographic. December 1, 2000. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Dinosaur Hall ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008 - 09 - 13. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Dinosaur Collections ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008 - 09 - 13. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ Trescott, Jacqueline. `` David Koch Donates $35 Million to National Museum of Natural History for Dinosaur Hall. '' Washington Post. May 3, 2012. Archived July 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 2012 - 05 - 28. Jump up ^ The specimen was found in sediments known as the Hell Creek Formation, hence the name `` Devil rex ''. ^ Jump up to : du Lac, J. Freedom `` Tyrannosaurus rex Gets Long - Term Lease at Smithsonian 's Natural History Museum. '' Washington Post. June 27, 2013. Archived July 20, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 2013 - 06 - 28. ^ Jump up to : Schontzler, Gail. `` Montana T. rex Heading to Smithsonian. '' Bozeman Daily Chronicle. June 28, 2013. Archived July 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 2013 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` The Nation 's T. Rex Invades the Smithsonian ''. nationalgeographic.com. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018. Jump up ^ `` How to 3 - D print a dinosaur ''. PBS NewsHour. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018. Jump up ^ Lac, J. Freedom du ( 15 April 2014 ). `` T. rex fossils arrive at Smithsonian 's National Museum of Natural History ''. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018 -- via www.washingtonpost.com. Jump up ^ `` Department of Vertebrate Zoology ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008 - 09 - 17. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Vertebrate Zoology : Division of Mammals ''. National Museum of Natural History. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008 - 08 - 02. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` The New Sant Ocean Hall Opens Sept 27. at the Smithsonian 's National Museum of Natural History '' ( PDF ). National Museum of Natural History. September 24, 2008. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on April 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 07 - 28. ^ Jump up to : `` Current Exhibitions ''. National Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 2009 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Q ? rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center ''. si.edu. 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018. Jump up ^ `` National Museum of Natural History - Smithsonian Institution ''. Washington Post. 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Urban Bird Habitat Garden ''. Exhibitions. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Smithsonian Sleepovers ''. Smithsonian Sleepovers. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016. Jump up ^ `` '' Night at the Museum : Battle of the Smithsonian '' Treasure Map ``. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 2009 - 05 - 17. Bibliography D'Angelis, Gina. It Happened in Washington, D.C. Guilford, Conn. : TwoDot, 2004. Evelyn, Dougas E. ; Dickson, Paul ; and Ackerman, S.J. On This Spot : Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C. Sterling, Va. : Capital Books, 2008. Redman, Samuel J. Bone Rooms : From Scientific Racism to Human Prehistory in Museums. Cambridge : Harvard University Press. 2016. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Museum of Natural History, United States. Geographic data related to National Museum of Natural History at OpenStreetMap National Museum of Natural History official website A Brief History of the Museum - from the NMNH website National Museum of Natural History - National Gem and Mineral Collection Research collections of the National Museum of Natural History Finding Aid to the Records of the Department of Anthropology, United States National Museum - National Museum of Natural History, Manuscript and Pamphlet File, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History at Google Cultural Institute hide Smithsonian Institution Museums African American History and Culture African Art Air and Space Udvar -- Hazy American Art American History Numismatic Collection American Indian Heye Center Anacostia Arts and Industries Castle Cooper -- Hewitt Design Freer Gallery of Art Hirshhorn Natural History Barcode of Life Global Volcanism Portrait Gallery Postal Renwick Gallery Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Zoo National Zoological Park Uncle Beazley Research Archives of American Art American Gardens Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program Conservation and restoration Archives Astrophysics Conservation Biology Environmental Research Libraries Marine Station Museum Conservation Institute Migratory Bird Tropical Research Cultural Asian Pacific Latino Folklife and Cultural Heritage Folklife Festival Folkways Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Smithsonian Global Sound Media Air & Space Smithsonian magazine Smithsonian Channel Other Affiliations James Smithson Ripley Center Science Education Traveling Exhibition Service Wilson Center ( The Wilson Quarterly ) Smithsonian Police BNF : cb122991619 ( data ) GND : 1007947 - 6 ISNI : 0000 0001 2364 5061 LCCN : n78083411 NLA : 35376276 SNAC : w6f58c79 SUDOC : 032917767 VIAF : 134356831 Biology portal Evolutionary biology portal Science portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Museum_of_Natural_History&oldid=839315049 '' Categories : 1910 establishments in the United States American national museums in Washington, D.C. Dinosaur museums in the United States Domes Insectariums Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington Museums established in 1910 National Mall Natural history museums in Washington, D.C. Natural history of the United States Rotundas ( architecture ) Smithsonian Institution museums Asian art museums in the United States Egyptological collections in the United States Paleontology in Washington, D.C. Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2010 Articles with dead external links from August 2010 Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2016 Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with NLA identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Articles containing video clips Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies Azərbaycanca Català Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Basa Jawa Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 吴语 粵語 中文 23 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 May 2018, at 17 : 07 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when was the national museum of natural history built
Answer: 1910