New Exhibitions
Visual Griots of Mali - This exhibition features 40 black and white photographs selected from the work of Malian youth (ages 10-16) following a workshop that the Academy for Education Development conducted in January 2005 in Tominian, Mali. Exhibit: October 2006 – April 29, 2007
Arctic: A Friend Acting Strangely - Earlier spring thaws! Later fall freeze-ups! Greater storm impacts! Reduced sea ice! Unfamiliar species of plants and animals! What do these changes mean for the Arctic, its wildlife, its people and the rest of the planet? Exhibit: Extended to Nov. 12, 2006
Change is in the Air - What's colorless, tasteless, and (mostly) odorless?
Surrounds and protects us throughout our lives? Makes Earth habitable? Is so fragile that it needs our care and protection? OUR ATMOSPHERE! Exhibit: Extended to Nov. 12, 2006
Natural history Highlights
Naked Corals: Did They Lose Their Skeletons? - - Corals structure the most diverse ecosystems in the oceans, the tropical reef environments, and are essential to all marine life. Scientists including Allen Collins at the National Museum of Natural History are working to understand coral biology and evolution. To read more…
Museum News
- Over 55% of NMNH’s Extant Biological Type Specimen Collections Records Have Been Made Available Online!
- The National Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce that current specimen data from five collecting units are now available to the public via a standard web interface. To read more…
- Get Involved with the Ocean Initiative - The NMNH is establishing a multifaceted Ocean Initiative that will engage, educate, and inspire the public.
* Pictured Above: The U.S. National Insect Collection is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. One of the two largest insect collections in the world, it contains an estimated 35 million specimens. Photo by Chip Clark.
The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to understanding the natural world and our place in it.
Visitor Information:
The museum is located at 10th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C. 20013 [MAP]
Admission is free and no tickets are required for entrance to the museum. For information, please call 202-633-1000.
Regular hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. (For more, see Plan Your Visit.)
Activities:
Sharks 3D
Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sharks 3D invites you to join the expert team of ocean explorers to document the life of the ultimate predator.
- Friday Evening Smithsonian Jazz Café - Now Featuring Latin Jazz Nights!