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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Group Visits

Which Program Is Right for Your Group?

Natural History Experiences for the Nation's Visiting Youth

The Hope Diamond necklace, featuring a large blue diamond encircled by smaller white diamonds.

These registered, self-guided programs for large-sized student and youth groups have been paused temporarily.

School Programs

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.

Explore our registered programs for schools in the Washington, D.C., area. Learn More

Group Visit Rules 

To ensure the enjoyment and safety of all museum visitors, these rules should be shared with each member of the group: 

  • Food, drinks, and gum are not allowed anywhere in the museum and must be kept in sealed containers. Water bottles, nursing, and bottle feeding are fine. 
  • Walking and talking are appropriate, while running and shouting are not. 
  • One chaperone is required for every 10 students.
  • Chaperones must stay with their students for the duration of their visit.
  • Running or playing on the escalators is not permitted.

All children (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. When accompanying children, one (1) adult can chaperone up to a maximum of ten (10) children. 

  • All groups must enter the museum through the general entry line.
  • To speed entry into the building, carry as little as possible (backpacks, bags, etc.).  Security checks are required of museum visitors. More information on permissible items can be found at our Visitor Tips page.

The museum's Atrium Café and Ocean Terrace Café are available for groups to purchase food during their visit. The most up-to-date information on the operating status, hours, and offerings can be found on the Dining & Shopping page.  

Café seating is reserved for visitors who purchase food and brown bag lunches may not be eaten within the museum.  

We do not offer storage or eating facilities for brown bag lunches inside the museum, and all food and drink must be in sealed containers if being brought into the museum. We recommend picnicking on the National Mall.

Group meal vouchers are available for advance purchase. For more information contact Smithsonian Enterprises Group Sales.

For groups not registered for a Natural History Self-Guided Experience or a registered school program, we recommend printing museum maps for your group. Get printable museum maps here.

The museum's entrances, exhibitions, and restrooms are fully accessible. See our accessibility page for specific amenities.

The best time to plan a quieter visit is during the winter months (January and February). If you plan a visit for the spring months (March through June), which are very crowded, your group may require extra supervision and you might require additional time for your visit.