Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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Dig It! The Secrets of Soil

Notice

We are in the final stages of constructing one of the Museum’s largest permanent exhibits, the new Sant Ocean Hall, scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, September 27, 2008. To complete the final installation of the exhibit, several areas in the Museum’s public space will need to be closed to the public and staff beginning, Monday, September 8, until Saturday, September 27. For more details...

New Exhibitions

Cross section of soil with grass growing on top
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil - Journey into the skin of the earth and explore the amazing world of soil in this exciting new exhibit. Visitors will discover the amazing connections between soils and everyday life, and think about this hidden world in a whole new way. Open to Jan. 2010.

Sea lion pups at rest Monterey, California
Ocean Views - The ocean: all life depends on it, we enjoy it, yet we often understand little about this environment. This photographic exhibit will give visitors new insights into ocean life and motivate them to celebrate and protect this fragile world. Open until October 26, 2008.

Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution
Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution - In this exhibit visitors can explore a living butterfly house and observe the many ways in which butterflies and other animals have evolved and adapted together with their plant partners over tens of millions of years. [Ticket Sales]

Upcoming Exhibitions

The Sant Ocean Hall – Opens Sept. 27. Image: Glowing-sucker Octopod, Photo courtesy of David Shale
The Sant Ocean Hall will be the Museum’s largest permanent exhibition. It will explore the ancient, diverse, and constantly changing nature of the ocean, the historical connections humans have had with it, and ways in which we are impacting the ocean today. Opens Sep. 27, 2008.

Natural History Highlight

Jellyfish Romance - (Carybdea sivickisi)
Jellyfish Romance - For most jellyfish, reproduction is not a particularly romantic affair. But recent research explores at least one species, called Carybdea sivickisi by scientists, shows a more intimate courtship routine.
 
 

The museum is located at 10th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C. 20560 [MAP]

Admission is free and no tickets are required for entrance to the museum. For information, please call 202-633-1000.

The museum is open every day of the year except December 25.

Regular hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Please Note: The Museum will close to the public at 4 pm, Thursday evening, September 25.

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IMAX
IMAX Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure - weaves a compelling story about an ancient and mysterious ocean world.

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