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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Aerial view from the National Mall of the National Museum of Natural History with its Gold Dome, wispy clouds, and DC in the background..

Visit

Hours

Open seven days a week.

10:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m., including holidays with the exception of December 25th and January 20th when we are closed to the public.

Location

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20560

Google Map

Visitors may enter from the National Mall on Madison Drive or Constitution Ave.

Admission

Admission is FREE.

Tickets are not required

Guidelines for Visiting

When is the museum open?
The National Museum of Natural History is seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except December 25 and January 20.

Are passes necessary to enter the museum?
No, passes are not needed to enter the museum.

Will there be security screening? 
For everyone’s safety, all visitors are required to go through screening during the security process. Please visit the Smithsonian’s security information page for more information on prohibited items. 

All visitors are required to walk through a metal detector. Those unable to go through the metal detector will be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel.

We encourage visitors to limit the number of personal belongings and bags brought into the museum as they may be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items brought will increase your speed through security checkpoints and help us all maintain a safe social distance. Please note that we do not offer coat, bag, or locker storage at this time.

Will the museum cafés and retail shops be open?

The Atrium Café is open from 11:30am-3:30pm and the Ocean Terrace Café is open 11:30am-4:00pm. The Family Store, Gallery Store, and Gems and Minerals Store are open from 10am-5:30pm.

Is there a coat or bag check at the museum?
We have limited locker storage available for small bags and items. Visitors are encouraged to travel as lightly as possible and refrain from bringing large bags and packs for the best museum experience.

Are there family-friendly restrooms?
A restroom designated for family use is located on the 1st floor of the museum, off of the Sant Ocean Hall. 

Can I bring my stroller, scooter, walker, wheelchair or any type of mobility device?
The museum is accessible to visitors using strollers, scooters, walkers, wheelchairs, and mobility devices. There are elevators available to visitors on every floor of the museum.

Are wheelchairs available?
A very limited number of manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for use while visiting the museum. You are encouraged to bring a wheelchair with you due to limited availability.

How do I contact the museum with questions?
For more information about visiting the museum, please email NaturalExperience@si.edu.

Masks are not currently required to visit. While not required, all visitors who feel more comfortable wearing a face mask during their visit are encouraged to do so.

Our current health and safety measures are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments. These measures may change in response to changing CDC COVID-19 Community Levels, so we encourage visitors to regularly check our website before their visit for the latest guidelines.

Museum Address

The museum is located on Madison Dr. NW, between 9th St NW and 12 St NW (Google Map). Visitors may enter on Madison Ave. or at 10th St. NW & Constitution Ave. NW. 

Metro

The closest Metro stations to the museum are the Federal Triangle Metro station, located on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines; the Archives/Navy Memorial station on the Green and Yellow lines; and the Metro Center station on the Red line. View a map of the closest Metro stations.

Parking

There are no Smithsonian Institution public parking facilities on the National Mall. There are a number of nearby commercial lots and garages which may have available parking. If you must drive, please see parking options. For additional information on bus parking, contact the National Park Service Mall Operations Office at 202-426-6841.

For More: Visit our Getting Here and Parking Page.

The National Museum of Natural History is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences. Please contact 202-633-3611 or send an email NMNHAccessibility@si.edu for access services. For more information visit the Accessibility Information page.

Entrance

All museum entrances and exits are accessible. 

Parking

The Smithsonian does not provide parking, but there are designated accessible spaces around the National Mall.

Service Animals

Service dogs specially trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome in the museum.

Information for Visitors in a Wheelchair

  • All of the museum's exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair, and all public floors of the museum can be reached by elevator.
  • All theaters include wheelchair locations and companion seats.
  • All food service areas are accessible by wheelchair with no steps, turnstiles, or other potential obstructions
  • All museum restrooms are accessible to those with mobility disabilities or in wheelchairs. Family/companion care restrooms are located on the First Floor off the Rotunda via the Sant Ocean Hall.

Information for Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Video presentations within exhibitions are open captioned. 
  • Induction loops are installed at the Rotunda Visitor Information Desk and the Worldwide Theater in the Hall of Human Origins.
  • Assisted Listening Devices are available upon request for programs in Baird Auditorium and Q?rius Theater.
  • Sign language interpretation or real-time captioning (CART) are available for public programs with a two week advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu.

Information for Visitors Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted

  • Tactile objects are provided for all visitors at designated points throughout the museum. A full list of tactile objects can be found at the Information Desks in large print and braille.
  • Verbally-described tours with tactile elements designed for visitors with visual disabilities are available with a two-week advanced notice. Subject to volunteer availability. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu.
  • The Deep Time Audio Description App use the accessibility features native to a visitor’s phone to explore the new Fossil Hall through a self-guided tour. Much of the Fossil Hall exhibition has been summarized into a manageable size and integrated with visual descriptions of key content, videos, touchscreen interactives, and iconic specimens. The app features in-depth descriptions of the 29 tactile opportunities within the gallery. The app also provides images with alt text and captions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and a search function. 

Information for Visitors with Developmental, Learning & Sensory Disabilities

Calendar of Events

This calendar of events highlights some of the programs and activities that will be happening at the museum.

For More: Visit Our Accessibility Information Page

We are committed to visitor safety and have security measures in place to keep you and Museum objects protected. When you arrive at the Museum you can expect a full security screening similar to what you might experience at the airport, except you can keep your shoes and belts on.

Items Not Permitted in the Museum

  • Firearms / ammunition
  • Knives (including pen, pocket or "Swiss Army"-style knives)
  • Aerosol cans (including pepper spray and Mace)
  • Scissors
  • Tools (screwdrivers, awls, etc.)
  • Placards, signs, or banners
  • Pets (except service animals)
  • Wagons (collapsible and fixed wheel)

Items You Are Prohibited from Using Inside the Museum

  • Tripods
  • Monopods
  • Selfie sticks
  • E-cigarettes
  • Skateboards / scooters

Items Permitted in the Museum

  • Strollers
  • Cameras
  • Mobility aids (canes, walkers, etc.)
  • Service animals (not emotional support animals)
  • Bottled water

Check the Smithsonian's security policy for the most up-to-date information. 

The museum's Security Office is located on the Ground Floor in the north (Constitution Avenue) lobby next to the elevators.

Dining

Ocean Terrace Café

Open 11:30am – 2:00pm

Location: First Floor

Make-your-own Grain Bowls at the Ocean Terrace Café with fresh greens and nutritious toppings. In addition, we feature fresh sandwiches, desserts, snacks, and beverages.

Atrium Café

Open 11:00am – 3:00pm

Location: Ground Floor

National Museum of Natural History: Featuring butcher craft burgers, grill items, a chef’s market table featuring seasonal menus, made-in-house Focaccia hot melts, desserts, and beverages. 

 

Shopping

Selected merchandise items in our shops are now available for purchase online at the Smithsonian Store.

For inquiries about our museum stores, please contact the NMNH Store Management Team at 202.633.2060.

Gem and Mineral Store

Location: Second Floor

Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Gallery Store

Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery

Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Family Store

Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery

Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Dinos and More Store

Location: First Floor, near the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals

Open hours vary

Natural History Express Kiosk

Location: Second Floor, near Cellphone: Unseen Connections

Open hours vary

Bag Lunches

Seating for bagged lunches is not currently available. Bagged lunches must be stowed away at all times while visiting the museum and must be eaten outside of the museum. The museum has no refrigerated storage for lunches.

Nursing Station

The museum now has a dedicated public nursing room. Located in the Constitution Avenue Lobby, the public nursing room allows our visitors to nurse in private and is close to the restrooms and health unit.

Pets

Pets (except service animals) are not permitted in the museum. Emotional support animals are not permitted in the museum.

Photography

The Smithsonian permits still and video photography for noncommercial use only in its museums and exhibitions, unless otherwise posted. For the safety of our visitors and collections, the use of tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks is not permitted at any time. Working members of the media who need to use a tripod or monopod must obtain permission from the museum’s Press Office and must be escorted by a museum staff member while in the building.

Notice: Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the Smithsonian for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on the Smithsonian’s and other public websites.

Wi-Fi

The museum provides free Wi-Fi access; choose the "si-visitor" network on your device. No password necessary. This is a public, unsecured network.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in all Smithsonian facilities. This includes e-cigarettes.

Please see the "Prepare for Security" section above for items that are not permitted inside the museum.

Must-do Experiences

Two visitors standing in front of the case holding the Hope Diamond, holding up their smart phones to take a picture of it.
Hope Diamond, The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, Second Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
Two children in a dark exhibit hall looking at the coral reef fish tank which is right in front of them.
Coral reef fish tank, Sant Ocean Hall, First Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
Two children put their hands over handprints on the wall of a model cave in the Human Origins exhibit.
Cave handprints, David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, First Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
A woman in front of 10 foot tall Megalodon shark jaws, holding up her smart phone to photograph four people behind the jaws.
Megalodon jaws, Sant Ocean Hall, First Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
An Insect Zoo employee holds a tarantula in his hand as three children and a woman look in amazement.
Live tarantula, O. Orkin Insect Zoo, Second Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
Bronze sculpture of an early human with a beard and mustache squatting and holding out a piece of wood.
Early human species sculpture, David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, First Floor. Photo by Paul Fetters.
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A blue and black Blue Morpho butterfly and two red, orange, and black monarch butterflies
VISITOR FAVORITE

Butterfly Pavilion

Stroll amid live butterflies and exotic plants in this tropical oasis.
Learn More
A view of the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals with a hippo in the foreground.

Today at the Museum

View All Events
A Smithsonian educator and scientist observe a fossil.

Visit the Museum from Home

If you can't join us in person, you can explore our online offerings from home.
Read More

Additional Resources

Five teenagers sitting around a table that is covered with paper. Some of the teens are holding magic markers. A disassembled cellphone is on the table and there is writing on the paper near the cellphone parts.
Group and School Visits
Snake Collections at the Museum Support Center
Virtual Tour
A lab tech works in with equipment in the biorepository at the Museum.
Professional Visits

Download Museum Map

Navigate your way around all three floors of the museum.

Detail of the museum map showing the Ocean Hall and Rotunda.