Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History NMNH

Notice

We are in the final stages of completing the Sant Ocean Hall, which opens on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. To complete the installation, several public areas will be closed until the opening. For more details...

New Exhibitions

: 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.
: 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 - 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 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 - 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.