Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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Girl holding hissing cockroach in Insect Zoo

Students The Museum offers educational materials to visitors for use in the Museum, the classroom or online.  All programs and materials are free.

What's New

The Butterfly Pavilion is Open!

Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution: offers an immersive live butterfly pavilion and displays that explore ways insects and other animals have co-evolved with plants over millions of years. Volunteer opportunities are available. 

Facilities

There are five educational facilities/exhibits available to the public and educators.

  • Dig It! The Secrets of Soil: journey into the exciting world of soil and explore this hidden and complex environment that is home to millions of living organisms and supports all life on Earth. This exhibit is currently under development and will open July 19, 2008. Volunteer opportunities are available.
  • Discovery Room: offers school programs by reservation and hands-on activities during open hours.
  • Insect Zoo: offers tarantula feedings, demonstrations and touchable insects (no reservations necessary).
  • Naturalist Center (Leesburg, VA): offers school programs by reservation and hands-on activities during public hours.
  • The Sant Ocean Hall: a new permanent exhibition—the Natural History Museum’s largest exhibit—explores the ancient, diverse, and constantly changing nature of the ocean, the long historical connections humans have had with it, and ways in which we are impacting the ocean today. This exhibit is currently under construction and will open in September 2008. Volunteer opportunities are available.

Educator's Enewsletter

A quarterly Educator Enewsletter (see the Spring edition) includes information on educational programs, exhibits, and special events for the National Museum of Natural History. If you would like to receive this newsletter you may register via email.

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