In addition to an extensive collection of permanent displays that feature gems, fossils, birds, mammals, and dioramas on human cultures, the museum continually hosts a wide variety of timely temporary exhibits. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute also serves as a research center dedicated to scholarship in the arts, science, and history. Sixteen District museums and galleries, the National Zoo, and numerous research facilities located both in the U.S. and abroad make up the Smithsonian. Five of the remaining museums and the National Zoo are located elsewhere in Washington, DC, while the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian are found in New York City. All museums are closed on December 25.
Admission is free.
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