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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Department of Paleobiology

Collections Visits

The Department of Paleobiology welcomes, with advanced notice, scientific researchers and their students to the collections to further their own research. We ask that all requests to visit the collections be made at least 1 month in advance. While we work to approve all visit requests, please note that some visits may be denied or rescheduled based on staffing availability and other outstanding requests.

Whether this is your first time visiting the collections or your 50th time, in order to keep track of all visit requests, we ask that you submit a new request for each visit.  All students must also submit a letter of support from their advisors, vouching for their ability to work responsibly in our collections.

Once your visit is approved you will be notified via email. Please have any additional documentation necessary (i.e. advisor approval letter, list of USNM specimen numbers) on hand to prevent any delays in scheduling your appointment. Please review the Visitor Guidelines and FAQ section below, It is vital that you review the guidelines below prior to your visit as these guidelines are in place to protect the collections and the individuals working with them, and to ensure the security of the department while allowing you to make the most of your visit to the collections. All visitors are expected to be familiar with these polices and we reserve the right to revoke visitor privileges at our discretion.

Visitor Guidelines and FAQs

In order to coordinate visit requests and to allow ample time to process your researcher ID paperwork we ask that you submit your request as early as possible.

  • For short visits (1 day) arrangements must be made at least two weeks in advance of the desired start date.
  • For longer visits (2-30 days) arrangement must be made at least 1 month in advance.
  • For visits longer than 30 days, and for researchers applying for an academic appointment, arrangements must be made at least 8 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, in advance of the desired start week to ensure sufficient time to process your application and complete the mandatory background investigation. Contact a Curator for more information.

Due to logistics of accessing certain specimens please make arrangements 1 month in advance if you are studying the following taxa: Cetacea, Hagerman Fossil Beds equids, Sauropoda, Teleoceras, Testudinata, Titanotheria, or vertebrate trackways.

Hours of access vary between the Natural History Building (NHB) and the Museum Support Center (MSC) but as a guideline for planning your visit, the collections are generally open Monday-Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, excluding Federal holidays. All scheduling requests are subject to staff availability so please coordinate with your staff sponsor as to what their specific hours and available days are.

Access hours are strictly observed at the MSC, your sponsor will give you further details should you need to access collections housed offsite. Research visitors who require greater flexibility in workdays and work hours, research visitors who expect to stay longer than 30 days in any one 12 month period, and frequent research visitors should consult with their Department of Paleobiology staff sponsor regarding the possibility of a formal academic appointment.

New visitors should report to the security office at the main entrance to the museum on Constitution Avenue. Security will then issue you a visitors badge and have you contact your staff sponsor to escort you to the Department of Paleobiology.

The fossil collections are split between the Natural History Building (NHB) in downtown Washington D.C and the Museum Support Center (MSC) in Suitland, Maryland, approximately 8 miles from the Natural History Building. Additional arrangements are required to examine specimens at the MSC.

 

The Natural History Building (NHB) is located at 10th St and Constitution Ave NW,  Washington DC, 20560.

The Museum Support Center (MSC) is located at 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD, 20746.

 

Parking

NHB: Metered street parking near the museum is extremely limited and daily rates at commercial garages may not be feasible for visitors on a strict budget. Apps such as ParkWhiz allow for making advanced parking reservations at nearby commercial garages.

MSC: A limited amount of free visitor parking is available on campus.

Public Transportation

The local subway system, Metro, is the simplest way to travel through DC. Visit Metro's Website for more information regarding using the DC public transportation system.

Click here for a map of the DC Metro System

NHB: Metro stops at Archives-Navy Memorial, Metro Center, Federal Triangle, and Smithsonian are all within a short walk from the Museum. Metro stations are also available at National Airport (DCA) and Union Station (Amtrak).

MSC: The MSC is accessible via Metro. The Suitland station is about a 15 minute walk from MSC.

NHB to MSC Shuttle: A shuttle bus leaves NHB every weekday hour from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Please check with your Paleo Department host for the shuttle schedule. Allow an additional hour of commuting time for each day you study collections there.

Our collections database is searchable through this link. Clicking the + next to a record will open a window with additional specimen information and any available images; details for all records can also be exported as a CSV for easier viewing. If you are interested in specific specimens, you may also send a list of these prior to your visit so that collections staff can locate them in advance or let you know if anything is unavailable for study. Be aware that we have a very large collection and not everything has a digital record; our staff will do their best to answer additional inquiries regarding specimen data.

We have a limited number of dissecting scopes and copy stands available for visitor use. Please make sure to note on your Visitor Registration Form if you will need access to this equipment. Visitors must bring any other necessary equipment and accessories with them.

If you are bringing in any specimens (real or cast) from your personal collection or from another institution, make sure this is noted on the Visitor Registration Form.  If you have any questions regarding equipment and availability, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To maintain the condition of all our specimens, all specimens must be treated with extreme care and respect.

  • Before and after handling specimens, please wash your hands.
  • Use trays and carts to transport specimens, never place a specimen on the floor.
  • Only remove specimens from the cabinets that you can work with in a single work session.
  • Put all specimens away at the end of the work day and when taking a lunch break.
  • All cabinets need to be kept closed and locked when not actually removing or returning specimens. Cases are to be closed while studying removed specimens. 
  • Labels and numbers are not to be removed from specimens without consulting a Collection Manager.
  • When removing specimens from the collection, a placeholder slip must be completed and left in the collection to flag the specimens location.
  • Please fill out placeholder slips when removing specimens from drawers or shelves. This will help you keep track of where specimens belong and will ensure they are returned to their proper storage location.
  • No preparation is allowed without prior consent of the curator in charge of the collection and/or collection staff.
  • Please ask for assistance when moving large fossils. Carts are also available upon request to help move specimens from their storage location to your work area.

Some collections such as the Burgess Shale require special visitor oversight from a departmental staff member.

All specimens brought to the museum (e.g. for comparison) must be logged in to the department at the time of your arrival and checked at your departure. Please let us know if you plan to bring in specimens to the collections in your visit request form.

If you have any problems or concerns when handling specimens, please do not hesitate to contact a staff member for assistance. Some oversize specimens require multiple people to handle.

  • Handles are designed for removing the lid, NOT for lifting the jacket. Use the flange around the outside of the jacket to lift and move the specimen.
  • Do NOT remove a specimen from a jacket without prior consent from VP staff. Jackets are often made for specimens that cannot support their own weight. If you need to examine surfaces that are not visible when the fossil is in the jacket, let staff know and we will try to accommodate your request.
  • Please ask for help to lift or flip specimens. Most fossils can be stored and viewed on either side of the jacket. Some are labeled “This Side Up” and should be returned to the collections in that orientation. Other jackets may not be flipped at all.
  • When replacing bolts, tighten them snugly, but not to their maximum extent. Tightening too far can crush delicate specimens.
  • Gloves are available on request for handling jackets. Jackets are constructed using sheets of fiberglass in plaster and although edges are smoothed as much as possible, you may get fiberglass in your skin which can cause temporary minor discomfort.

Your visit host will provide you with an imaging agreement form that must be completed if you wish to complete any photography, 3D data capture, and/or CT scanning of NMNH Department of Paleobiology specimens. All images and datasets of Smithsonian collections may be used only in accordance with the Smithsonian Terms of Use. Photographs and 3D datasets may not be used for commercial purposes unless explicit license is given by the Smithsonian. A copy of all raw and processed images and datasets must be provided to the Department of Paleobiology. Any questions should be directed to Holly Little, Paleobiology Informatics Manager. 

CT Scanning is not available for external use however a loan can be requested for a specimen(s) to be scanned at another facility. For more information on loaning specimens please see our page on Specimen Loans.

Let staff know as soon as possible if you intend on borrowing specimens. Loans must be approved by the curator in charge of the collection and department registrar. Do not leave these requests until the last day of your visit as compiling the paperwork and packing the specimen(s) cannot always be completed the same day as the request is made.

For more information on loaning specimens please see our page on Specimen Loans.

Requests to sample our specimens for further analysis (e.g. radiocarbon, isotopic, etc.) require a one page proposal that includes the following: Your proposal must include

  • What is your study? 
  • What exactly will be sampled?
  • What sampling methods will be used and how much sample is required?
  • Provide a justification for why this sampling is needed and an explanation of why there are no alternatives to sampling.
  • How might the data be relevant in the future?
  • An agreement to provide a copy of the data to the NMNH for our records. 

The proposal should be signed by yourself and, if you are a student, also approved signed by your advisor.

All proposals and specimen selections are subject to the approval of collections and curatorial staff. Whenever possible, please submit these requests prior to your visit. While it is possible to arrange a loan for specimens during your visit, we cannot guarantee we will be able to expedite loan processing for you to leave with the specimens or samples in hand and may need to ship them at a later date. 

We ask visitors to please notify a staff member of any signs of a live pest infestation, misplaced specimens, or suspected incorrect data such as specimen misidentification (please do not make any corrections).

Notify staff immediately if something breaks; accidents happen. A staff member will assess the situation, stabilize the specimen as necessary before study continues, and will see to specimen repair.

Many specimen cases within the Department of Paleobiology contain trace amounts of lead and arsenic.  The department maintains a supply of gloves for use by researchers upon request. Make sure to wash your hands before and after handling specimens and opening and closing cases. For additional information contact one of the collection managers.

In the event of a museum emergency, listen for and follow the instructions broadcast over the security loudspeakers. If you are asked to evacuate, please do not worry about specimens or equipment, and leave the building immediately.

If you experience an emergency, call NMNH security at 202.633.3066 or MSC security (main entrance) at 301.238.1156. You can also call 911 from a museum phone, which routes to NMNH and SI security. A Collections and Lab Safety Plan can be made available on request from your host.

Visitors may have a re-sealable water bottle with them while working in the collection but no other food or drink is allowed. There is also to be no eating, drinking, or storing food in collection ranges or around specimens.

Both the NMNH and MSC have a cafeteria.  There is a microwave and refrigerator available for visitor use at NMNH. 

Submit a Visit Request Form