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Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History – an Introduction
As the name suggests, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History is a wonderful national history museum in Washington, D.C., administered by the Smithsonian Institution. A museum known for its amazing collection of over 125 million specimens of human and cultural artifacts, animals, plants, fossils, rocks, minerals and meteorites, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History is also the home to some 185 professional natural history scientists, making it the place of largest group of scientists dedicated to study of cultural and natural history in the world. Established in 1910, this U.S. museum is also the second most popular of all the Smithsonian museums.
Visiting Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History is unique in its every sense, as besides a wide array of exhibits, this museum is also the place of the largest concentration of researchers who are working towards the cultural and natural history. Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History also maintains various reference collections like as those of the National Herbarium.
As you start visiting Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, you will find a number of halls dedicated to some specific field.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is the home to one of the most remarkable collections of National Gem and Mineral in the world with over 15,000 collection of gems, 350,000 minerals and 300,000 samples of rock and ore specimens. You can find some of the most renowned pieces of gems and minerals here, which include the famous Hope Diamond, as well as the Star of Asia Sapphire.
One can also find over 570,000 catalogued reptiles of the world in this museum of U.S. In the Hall of Dinosaurs, you will see fossilized skeletons and cast models, some notables of which include Tyrannosaurus rex facing off with Triceratops.
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History has also got world’s largest collection of vertebrate specimens. So, you have quite a lot to see here, for sure.
Before you wind up your Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History tour, don’t forget to visit O. Orkin Insect Zoo, where you will find live insects and exhibits of insects and entomologists. You should also visit the IMAX Theater, which offers feature-length films. Discovery Room shouldn’t be missed as well.
Opening Hours
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History remains open throughout the year except December 25, from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
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