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Hours and Locations

# National Museum of Natural History

                      See on map                    Floor Plan

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. dailyClosed Dec. 25

Admission is free

naturalhistory.si.edu

## About

The world's most popular natural history museum is dedicated to understanding the natural world and our place in it. Delve into the fascinating story of our planet, from its fiery beginnings through billions of years of transformation, and explore life on Earth through exhibitions and activities, collection objects and research that happens in the lab and in the field. The museum is larger than 18 football fields and is home to the largest natural history collection in the world.

## Highlights

Hall of Human Origins; National Fossil Hall, *Deep Time*; mammals; Ocean Hall; the Hope Diamond; Egyptian mummies; O. Orkin Insect Zoo; Butterfly Pavilion ($).

## Getting Here

We encourage the use of Metrorail and Metrobus.

### Metrorail

**Metro Station:**Smithsonian (Mall exit) or Federal Triangle

**Nearest Accessible Metro Entrance:**Federal TriangleWest side of 12th St., NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave., NW

Check Metrorail's Elevator and Escalator Service Status page for service disruptions.

### MetroAccess

To provide an address for MetroAccess Paratransit, please use 1300 Constitution Avenue, NW.

### Parking

There is **no public parking facility** for Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. A limited number of city-operated metered parking spaces are available, including several accessible parking spaces.

View a map of accessible parking spaces.

Reserved parking near the museums can be purchased in advance through ParkWhiz.Note: *ParkWhiz is a third-party vendor (ParkWhiz Privacy Policy).*

## Dining and Shopping

### Dining

**Atrium Café**(Ground Floor)The museum’s largest café, featuring family-friendly menus such as Butcher Craft Burgers, a seasonal Chef’s Market Table, desserts, beverages, wine/beer, and coffee.11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

**Ocean Terrace Café**(First Floor)The Ocean Terrace Café has been developed with a greater focus on grains and vegetables being at the core of a daily diet. Entrees feature sustainable items, seasonally available local produce, artisan craft foods, vegetable focused entrees, and the reduced use of proteins. Try our fair-trade certified coffees and teas along with house-baked pastries and desserts.11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For assistance with/information on group dining, please visit Group Sales.

### Shopping

Stores include unique cultural treasures from around the globe, engaging and educational toys, museum mementos, dinosaurs galore, extraordinary gems and minerals, science kits, and more.

For inquiries, please contact the NMNH Store Management Team at 202.633.2060. Selected merchandise is available for purchase online at the Smithsonian Store. .

**Gem and Mineral Store**Second Floor

**Gallery Store**Ground Floor, Evans Gallery

**Family Store**Ground Floor, Evans Gallery

**Dinos and More Store**First Floor, near the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of MammalsOpen hours vary

## Accessibility

See **Getting Here**for information on accessible parking and public transportation.

**Accessibility Information and Programs**
                    - Smithsonian accessibility for visitors
                    - Museum accessibility details

**Disability access service requests:**NMNHAccessibility@si.edu or call 202.633.5238

                - Exhibitions
                - Collections Sampler
                - In-Person Events

Sort By:Opening**Closing**View By:display results as list**display results as grid**

                        -  **  Cellphone: Unseen Connections				              June  23, 2023 Through 2026														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky				              March  23, 2023 – December 2025														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Barro Colorado Island 100 Years of Discoveries and Wonder				              November  18, 2022 Through 2024														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Nature of the Book				              November  11, 2022 – September  3, 2024														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Our Places: Connecting People and Nature				              July  1, 2022 – Until July 2024														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Berns Quartz				              October  27, 2021 – Indefinitely														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils—Deep Time				              June  8, 2019 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Mega-toothed Shark				              May  24, 2019 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Sea Monsters Unearthed, Life in Angola's Ancient Seas				              November  9, 2018 – Until 2023														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  The Garden Lounge				              November  16, 2017 – Indefinitely														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Objects of Wonder				              March  10, 2017 – Closing in 2025														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  African Elephant				              September  4, 2015 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Mud Masons of Mali				              August  31, 2013 – Indefinitely														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt				              November  17, 2011 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins: What Does It Mean To Be Human?				              March  17, 2010 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Sant Ocean Hall				              September  27, 2008 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution				              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals				              November  15, 2003 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  African Voices				              December  15, 1999 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals				              September  20, 1997 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  FossiLab				              1995 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Insect Zoo, O. Orkin				              September  10, 1993 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Birds of the District of Columbia				              August  24, 1979 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 
                        -  **  Bone Hall				              1964 – Permanent														              Natural History Museum										 

View all Natural History Museum exhibitions

View all exhibitions

                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Hope Diamond 
                          -          NMNH - Paleobiology Dept.        Triceratops horridus Marsh, 1889 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division        Phascolarctos cinereus 
                          -          NMNH - Entomology Dept.        Lepidoptera 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Mummy Mask 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Jolie Citrine Necklace 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Birds Division        Ectopistes migratorius 
                          -          NMNH - Paleobiology Dept.        Triceratops horridus Marsh, 1889 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Wooden Treasure Box Presented To Calvin Coolidge By Arawa Chiefs 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Necklace 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division        Setifer setosus 
                          -          NMNH - Paleobiology Dept.        Bergeroniellus sp 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Metallic Beetle 
                          -          NMNH - Botany Dept.        Indet. sp. 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division        Glossophaga commissarisi commissarisi 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Corundum (var. sapphire) 
                          -          NMNH - Invertebrate Zoology Dept.        Leptoseris gardineri 
                          -          NMNH - Invertebrate Zoology Dept.        Odontodactylus scyllarus 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Napoleon Diamond Necklace 
                          -          NMNH - Invertebrate Zoology Dept.        Fusinus galatheae bountyi 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Gold 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Encaustic Portrait, Mummy 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division        Daubentonia madagascariensis 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Picasso Kunzite Necklace 
                          -          NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division        Ursus maritimus 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Elbaite 
                          -          NMNH - Mineral Sciences Dept.        Conchita Sapphire Butterfly 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Loom with Textile 
                          -          NMNH - Botany Dept.        Indet. sp. 
                          -          NMNH - Botany Dept.        Opuntia azurea Rose 
                          -          NMNH - Entomology Dept.        Ceratitis capitata 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Slate Box Of 5 Carvings 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Chi Wara, Crest Mask 
                          -          NMNH - Invertebrate Zoology Dept.        Asterias rubens 
                          -          NMNH - Anthropology Dept.        Earthen Vase. 

Collection items shown may not be on view.

View all events

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