General Information
Admission to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is free and no tickets are required for entrance to the museum. National Museum of Natural History programs are also free unless otherwise noted.
For general Smithsonian Institution visitor information, including maps, transportation options, and other tips for visiting, please see: Smithsonian Visitor Information. For additional information, please call (202) 633-1000 or TTY (202) 357-1729.
Photography is allowed in all exhibitions except where otherwise indicated. The use of tripods is not permitted inside the museum unless permission is granted by the museum's Public Affairs Office. Tripods may be used on the museum's grounds.
Street Address
The Museum is located at the intersection of 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. 20560 (Mailing Address)
Maps
For a map of the National Mall, including the National Museum of Natural History and other Smithsonian museums, see our maps page.
Floor Plans
For floor plans of the National Museum of Natural History, see our floor plans page.
Security and Policies
The safety of the Smithsonian's visitors, volunteers, staff, and collections is of the highest importance, see the SI Securities and Policies page.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted in any indoor space, including the bathrooms at Natural History. Smoking is restricted to designated areas outside of the building.
Group Discounts
The Museum offers group discounts for the Live Butterfly Pavilion, Atrium Café, and for the IMAX theater. Discounts apply to any group of 10 or more. Follow this group discounts link to find out more or to purchase: http://si.edu/GroupSales/NaturalHistoryMuseum
Parking
There is no public parking facility at the Smithsonian on the National Mall; on-street parking is limited and posted times are enforced. There are commercial parking lots and garages located within several blocks of the museums. There are also a limited number of parking spaces for vehicles with the appropriate license plate or permit for visitors with disabilities.
Public Transportation
Metro
Metrorail, Washington's subway system, and Metrobus link the city with nearby communities in Maryland and Virginia. Every subway station is equipped with an elevator and most with escalators. Metrorail is conveniently located near many Smithsonian museums. The closest Metro Station to the National Museum of Natural History is the Smithsonian Station (Mall exit) on the Blue and Orange line. For a Metrorail map and more information, visit the Metro Website: http://www.wmata.com.
Directions
For directions on how to get to our museum via public transportation visit: http://www.wmata.com.
Health Unit
We are pleased to announce that Health Unit at the Natural History Building has re-opened on Monday, May 18, 2009. The office will serve both Staff and Visitors at NHB. It is located in the North (Constitution Avenue) Lobby next to the Ladies Restroom.
The hours of operation are:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (6:00 PM for the interval between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
- Weekends and Holidays – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Museum Hours:
The museum is open every day of the year except December 25.
Regular hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Note: The Museum will extend its hours until 7:30 PM on certain dates. For a list of these days...
Other Visitor Information
The Naturalist Center in Leesburg, Virginia closed on July 9, 2011. It will move back to the Natural History Museum on the Mall in Winter 2012.
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