Interior Museum Tours
Scheduled a tour by calling (202) 208-4743
Educational tours at the Interior Museum highlight the relationship between the Department of Interior's activities and the history of our nation.
The Museum's exhibits tell the story of the Department from its creation in 1849 to the present. Surveying equipment, models, dioramas and natural history specimens are featured. Intricate metal silhouettes illustrate the missions of the Department's bureaus, and represent the expert 1930s craftsmanship that went into constructing the Museum.
Of special interest to school groups are exhibits portraying events of the settlement of the western United States and the intricate dioramas. Tours can include an interview with a Native American Interior staff person who grew up on or near a reservation. Interview questions are directed to both the Native American guest and the students, who are encouraged to relate their experiences with whose of the speaker.
The Interior Museum's standard tour is one hour long and provides an overview of the history of the Department. Outside speakers may be scheduled to address specialized topics such as Native American history or Geology. Building tours focus on the architecture of Interior's headquarters (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the building's more than two dozen 1930s-era murals.