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4.5
9,264 votes

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20560 USA

Free
Free to Visit
Closed Now
Opens Thu 10a
  • Independent
  • Credit Cards
    Accepted
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
  • Wifi
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Iconic Attraction

Our Take

This is a museum that kids (and kids at heart) will want to come back to time and time again. There’s an exhibit for any interest, from ancient Egyptian mummies to sharks and other ocean creatures, and beyond. Kids will no doubt find the fossilized poop intriguing, and adults can marvel at the massive Hope Diamond. You could easily spend a full day here, or pick out a few exhibits to see in advance if you’re short on time. Pro tip: the Butterfly Pavilion is one of the best-kept secrets of the Museum of Natural History.

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“The world’s preeminent museum and research complex”

The National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the National Mall was among the first Smithsonian building constructed exclusively to house the national collections and research facilities. Cretaceous Diorama, Dinosaur Hall, National Museum of Natural History Whether looking at the history and cultures of Africa, describing our earliest Mammalian ancestor or primate diversity around the world, examining ancient life forms including the ever popular dinosaurs, or exploring the beauty of rare gemstones such as uniquely colored diamonds, the Museum’s temporary and permanent exhibitions serve to educate, enlighten and entertain millions of visitors each year. The main building on the National Mall contains 1.5 million square feet of space overall and 325,000 square feet of exhibition and public space; altogether the Museum is the size of 18 football fields, and houses over 1000 employees. With a growing network of interactive websites, the Museum is transforming itself into a hub for national and international electronic education, accessible to anyone with access to the internet. 

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Reviewed by
Tatiana Danger

  • Road Warrior
  • 1,169 Reviews
  • 910 Helpful
July 13, 2014
Rated 4.0

I am absolutely obsessed with this place. It's actually quite overwhelming to visit. It's a gorgeously-laid out series of museums, but there's no humanly way you'll be able to see all of it. It's massive. 1.5 million square feet massive. The Air and Space Museum is my favorite.

4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Ken Valuska

  • Expert
  • 594 Reviews
  • 177 Helpful
August 04, 2014
Rated 5.0

You will need more than one day to really do this place justice and see all there is to see. If you only have one day, though, definitely make sure you see every hallway and exhibit, and take some time to really admire the detail.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
alannarusnak

  • 13 Reviews
  • 8 Helpful
March 24, 2015
Rated 5.0

It's incredible to me that this place is free! The kids LOVED it - especially the T-Rex.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Victoria

  • Photographer
  • 49 Reviews
  • 35 Helpful
September 23, 2014
Rated 5.0

My favorite museum! I literally spend hours and hours at this museum and still don't see everything. It's free and totally worth the time.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Fallon Venable

  • 37 Reviews
  • 32 Helpful
July 14, 2014
Rated 3.0

There was a lot of really neat stuff to see, but it was just too crowded for me to really experience the museum. Compared to the other great museums on the Mall, I would make this one a low priority, unless you have kids, which I don't.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Stephen Rees

  • Road Warrior
  • 273 Reviews
  • 331 Helpful
July 13, 2014
Rated 3.0

The Smithsonian's museum of Natural History isn't my favorite of all the Smithsonians, but it's definitely worth checking it out--especially if you're traveling with kids. The place has a totally cool collection of dinosaur fossils, and then a pretty thorough exhibit that takes you through the Earth's various eras and the animals that inhabited the planet during those time periods.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Skadrum

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
June 24, 2014
Rated

Nice exhibits, good for all ages

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Cullen Brown

  • Expert
  • 67 Reviews
  • 97 Helpful
May 13, 2014
Rated

I know this is one of the top attractions in DC, but I honestly wasn't that impressed. To be sure, this would be a great place to take younger kids, and is probably a completely different experience when less crowded.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Katy

  • 3 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
July 12, 2016
Rated 4.0

Put on your good walking shoes! My son loved it, especially the bugs and t-rex.

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Reviewed by
gleason1

  • 23 Reviews
  • 7 Helpful
March 31, 2016
Rated 5.0

This was the best museum of all on the mall. So many exhibits to keep everyone interested.
Fun for all ages.

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, District of Columbia
20560 USA
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Hours

Closed Now
  • Sun - Wed: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thu - Sat: 10:00 am - 7:30 pm

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    Wheelchair Accessible
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    Credit Cards Accepted
Check In
24 hours
Rooms Count
51-100
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