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National Museum of Natural History
Chip Clark/NMNH

Hours:

  • 10 to 5:30 weekdays; weekends 10 to 7:30, March 28 - Sept. 5 open most days 10 to 7:30; closed December 25

Location:

  • Constitution Ave. at 10th St., NW
    Washington, DC

Phone/Website:

Metro:

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  • Smithsonian Station or Federal Triangle Station

The Skeletons of Shanidar Cave
A rare cache of hominid fossils from the Kurdistan area of northern Iraq offers a window on Neanderthal culture
By Owen Edwards Smithsonian magazine, March 2010


Sculpting Evolution
A series of statues by sculptor John Gurche brings us face to face with our early ancestors
By Abigail Tucker Smithsonian magazine, March 2010


A New Chapter in the Hope Diamond’s History
The National Museum of Natural History’s most famous gem gets a modern update
By Abby Callard Smithsonian magazine, August 2009


Glow-in-the-Dark Jewels
How the Hope Diamond's mysterious phosphorescence led to "fingerprinting" blue diamonds
By Kenneth R. Fletcher Smithsonian magazine, January 2008


True to Form
An exact replica represents a particular North Atlantic whale
By Owen Edwards Smithsonian magazine, September 2008


Q&A: Nancy Knowlton
The renowned coral reef biologist leads Smithsonian's effort to foster a greater public understanding of the world's oceans
By Beth Py-Lieberman Smithsonian magazine, September 2008


30 Years Later: The Anniversary of the Eruption of Mount St. Helens
Thirty years ago today, Mount St. Helens erupted, spreading approximately 540 million tons of ash over more than 22,000 square miles surrounding Washington state.
By Jamie Simon Around the Mall Blog, May 18, 2010


“The Way We Genuinely Live”: A Look At Yup’ik Culture
Yup’ik elder Paul John and his ancestors didn’t have motorized cars or electric tools to survive their home in the sub-arctic tundra of Southwest Alaska.
By Erica R. Hendry Around the Mall Blog, April 21, 2010


At Natural History: What’s On A Caveman’s iPod Playli
What would a neanderthal have on his iPod playlist?
By Jesse Rhodes Around the Mall Blog, March 18, 2010


Deep Thoughts with Cephalopod Biologist Mike Vecchione
I can remember being enthralled by Jacques Cousteau, watching his television shows about his ocean exploration adventures aboard his famous ship, the Calypso.
By Jeff Campagna Around the Mall Blog, February 18, 2010


Yikes! The Sky is Falling. And a Meteoric Dispute Ensues
Around this time each year, geologists from the department of mineral sciences at the National Museum of Natural History anxiously await the arrival of hundreds of meteorites that are collected annually from Antarctica.
By Erica R. Hendry Around the Mall Blog, January 29, 2010