Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Dinosaurs, diamonds and the whole natural world, free
⏱ 2-4 hours👤 All agesFree
Get Tickets
Get Natural History DC Tickets
Skip the line · mobile tickets accepted at the door
The museum opened in 1910 in its Beaux-Arts building on the Mall, and behind the public halls it is one of the world's great research institutions, where Smithsonian scientists study everything from meteorites to deep-sea life. The public exhibits have been steadily modernized — the Deep Time hall is the showpiece, reframing dinosaurs within the whole sweep of climate and evolution, and making the case that humans are now part of the fossil record being written. Some of the stars carry their own stories: the Hope Diamond arrived in 1958 as a gift from the jeweler Harry Winston, who famously sent it through the US mail; the elephant has stood in the rotunda since 1959; and the ocean hall's whale model portrays Phoenix, a real North Atlantic right whale that scientists have followed since her birth.
The visit craft: arrive at opening and go straight to the second floor for the Hope Diamond before lines form, then head down to the fossil hall while it is still manageable. The Constitution Avenue entrance usually has shorter lines than the Mall side. With young kids, the insect zoo and the ocean hall are the best bets; the butterfly pavilion is a small paid add-on. The cafe is crowded at lunch, so eat early or picnic on the Mall. The Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals, with its lion and other animals in lifelike habitat settings, is another easy win for kids, and the megalodon jaws in the ocean hall make a good photo stop.
Practicals and fit: 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, open daily with free admission and no tickets required, two to four hours. Metro to Federal Triangle or Smithsonian. It sits beside the National Museum of American History and across the Mall from the National Air and Space Museum, so a free Smithsonian day is easy to build. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the year except December 25, and the Ocean Terrace Café on the first floor is the in-house food option.
What to Expect
Format
Free Smithsonian halls on the National Mall — the rotunda elephant, the Deep Time dinosaur hall, the ocean hall, human origins, the insect zoo and the Hope Diamond. No tickets required.
Best Time
Opening time on weekdays outside spring break and summer; late afternoons are calmer.
Duration
Two to four hours.
Tips
See the Hope Diamond first, then the fossil hall. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance for shorter lines. Check the Smithsonian operating status before travel, especially around federal budget deadlines.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
Free family science on the National Mall.
Families
Dinosaurs, a giant whale, live insects and a cursed diamond — the free family day in DC.
Couples
The gem hall and the Deep Time story, then a walk down the Mall.
Pair With
The National Air and Space Museum across the Mall for a free Smithsonian day.
Time Needed
Half a day on the Mall.
Ready to book Natural History DC?
Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the National Museum of Natural History free?
Yes — admission is free and no tickets are required; only some extras, such as the butterfly pavilion, carry a fee.
Where is the Hope Diamond?
On the second floor in the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals — go early, because the line builds through the day.
Can the museum close during a government shutdown?
Yes — Smithsonian museums depend on federal funding and have closed during past funding lapses, so check the official site before your trip.
What is the best entrance?
The Constitution Avenue entrance often has shorter security lines than the National Mall entrance. The nearest Metro station is Federal Triangle, on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.
How long should we spend?
Two to four hours covers the major halls; dinosaur fans can easily take longer. The Deep Time hall alone rewards an hour, with the T. rex and Triceratops as headliners and fossils tracing billions of years of life on earth.
More All Museum Attractions
Browse all →
National Air and Space Museum
The Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the machines that reached the Moon — the Smithsonian's flight cathedral on the National Mall, free as all Smithsonians are but pass-gated, and freshly renewed by a top-to-bottom renovation.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The bronze corona on the National Mall — the Smithsonian's most powerful museum descends to a slave cabin and Emmett Till's casket, then climbs through the movement to the culture floors. Free, pass-gated, and worth every bit of the planning.
American Museum of Natural History
The dinosaur halls, the blue whale, and the dioramas that invented the genre — four city blocks of natural wonder on Central Park West, now with the Gilder Center's canyon-like halls and a butterfly vivarium. The great American family museum.