Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

When you step into the National Museum of Natural History, you're stepping into over 145 years of scientific discovery and adventure. Founded in 1910, this Smithsonian Institution gem houses 145 million specimens and artifacts that tell the story of our planet and humanity's place in it. The Hope Diamond, perhaps the world's most famous gemstone with its legendary curse, sits in the legendary David's Hall of Gems, dazzling millions of visitors with its deep blue brilliance and dark mystique. But beyond the spectacular jewels lie stories of dinosaurs that roamed earth 66 million years ago, human evolution spanning millions of years, and ecosystems teetering on the brink of extinction. With Questo, you can journey through the ancient world in the Fossil Hall, encounter 300-pound prehistoric insects, uncover the secrets of human migration, and confront uncomfortable truths about climate change and species extinction. The museum isn't just a collection; it's a conversation between past and present about our future.