Exhibits

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Henry the elephant front view on new platform in Rotunda

First Floor | Exhibit

African Bush Elephant

Learn about the ecology of African elephants, their place in geologic time, and their connections to humans, including the threats they face from poachers.

First Floor | Exhibit

African Voices

Examine the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa's peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment.

Second Floor | Exhibit

Bone Hall

Compare and contrast the skeletons of flying fish, a massive sea turtle, snakes, a giraffe, monkeys, and many more vertebrates. Learn what skeletons tell us about how different animals live.

Monarch butterfly sitting on a pink flower.

Second Floor | Experience | Temporarily Closed

Butterfly Pavilion

Walk through our butterfly pavilion filled with tropical plants and live, flittering butterflies. Explore how plants and butterflies have evolved in response to each other.

an image of a cellphone taking a picture of a cellphone photo of two women wearing masks

Second floor | Special Exhibit

Cellphone: Unseen Connections

What’s inside your cellphone? Explore its materials, meet some of the people who make it possible, and consider how your phone influences your life—and connects you to the natural world.

A fossilized T. rex biting a triceratops

FIRST FLOOR | EXHIBIT

David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time

Journey through time from the beginning of life on Earth through the reign of the dinosaurs to the present, a time of immense planetary changes.

First Floor | Exhibit

David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins

Meet your closest ancestors and relatives in this exploration of human evolution. Discover fascinating stories of extinction and survival, and learn what set us apart from other species.

colorful insects blue butterflue and beetles against a dark background

Ground Floor | Exhibit

Dazzling Diversity

Explore the vast and varied insect world through the pages of early illustrated books.

Second Floor | Exhibit

Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt

Uncover the world of ancient Egypt through the ceramics, tools, and jewelry found in ancient tombs, along with four mummies from over 2000 years ago that have been uncovered through modern science and technology.

four colorful (green, yellow, red, and pink) gems on black background

Second Floor | Exhibit

Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals

Dig in to unearth the secrets of our planet’s gems, minerals, rocks, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Examine meteorites that hold the mysteries of the formation of our solar system.

First Floor | Exhibit

Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals

Can you find a leaping tiger, a pink fairy armadillo, or a South American kinkajou? These animals, many of which you can’t see anywhere else, highlight the incredible variety of the mammal family.

a bright halo of stars over a dark landscape

Second floor | Temporary Exhibit

Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky

When was the last time you saw the Milky Way? Experience the grandeur of a starry night, discover the dark side of artificial lights, and find out how you can reduce light pollution and reconnect with the night sky. (Night sky: © Babak Tafreshi, TWAN)

An image of the megalodon model hanging from the ceiling of the Natural History Museum.

Atrium First Floor | Exhibit

Mega-toothed Shark

Come face-to-face with a 52-foot-long model of a female mega-toothed shark suspended above our new dining area.

Second Floor | Through 2028

NASA’s Earth Information Center @ NMNH

Get a global perspective of our changing planet! Find out what data collected from NASA satellites and by scientists on the ground tell us about what’s happening on Earth.

Second Floor | Exhibit

O. Orkin Insect Zoo

Get up close and personal with live insects and their many-legged relatives. Watch a tarantula eat lunch and hold a hissing cockroach. Learn about the diversity of bees, flies, and other insects.

Two young girls in white lab coats use a hand lens to examine models of fossils at a table in Q?rius jr. – a discovery room.

Currently Closed: Check Back for Reopening Date

Q?rius jr. – Now located in Q?rius

Students in grades K-5 get a chance to practice their scientific inquiry skills as they interact with items from the museum’s collections.

Students examine Museum collection objects as part of a Q?rius school program. Photo by Jennifer Renteria, Smithsonian.

Currently Closed: Check Back for Reopening Date

Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center

Get details about this interactive learning space, including location, hours, events, and activities.

First Floor | Exhibit

Sant Ocean Hall

Dive into the ocean, from the shore down to the ocean floor. Travel through time, from the origins of the ocean 3.8 billion years ago to the challenges and opportunities the ocean presents today.