Dinosaurs Invading Washington!

No, they are not literally invading Washington but you can find them here… well, their remains at least! By visiting the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History you will not only come across some fascinating dinosaur skeletons but also get to learn about the earliest human origins and the development of world cultures. Other amazing exhibitions include the ones for ancient and modern mammals, the evolution of birds, reptiles and amphibians, insects and of course the captivating world of sea creatures. So plan ahead for an amazing journey through time and book your cheap flights to Washington D.C in advance for a one-of-a-kind experience.

The National Museum of Natural History is a subpart of the Smithsonian Institute which is labelled as the ‘Museum of Museums’ because it is the world’s preeminent museum and largest research complex. This museum is dedicated towards discovery and inspiring curiosity and spreading the message about learning about the natural world through their unparalleled research, exhibitions of their collections and their educational outreach programs. The National Museum’s green dome building was one of the first to be constructed and had its inauguration in 1910. The permanent exhibits include:

Dinosaurs/Hall of Paleobiology: Once you enter the Hall of Dinosaurs you a greeted fossilized skeletons and cast models of Tyrannosaurus Rex having a faceoff with a Triceratops. Here you will get to meet some of the most important dinosaurs known to science, from the eighty-foot Diplodocus to the ferocious Allosaurus. The ceiling is covered by models of Pterodactyls and their skeletons and walls have an earthy feel giving you an impression that you have walked right into the pre-historic era almost 200 million years ago. With over 570,000 catalogued reptiles from all over the world this exhibit is a must-see; dino-fan or not!

Hall of Mammals: The entrance hall has a large life-sized replica of a full grown African elephant standing in its natural habitat. Moving forward into the Hall of Mammals you will find a world-class collection of almost 590,000 preserved specimens. They are presented as works of modern art right within their own strikingly minimal environments. You will be able to discover different mammal’s evolutionary adaptations and their hugely diverse contexts. And the ultimate end of the tour you will find yourself face to face with ‘yourself’. That humans too are mammals and a section is dedicated to human beings.

Insect Zoo: Here you will find featured live insects and exhibits about the many different insects of the world. The butterfly house has some very rare and large species of butterflies flying around that may even come and sit on your shoulder if you stand still enough. There are also many different habitats created to show you all the different types of environments where and how these insects live. Some of them include freshwater ponds. Deserts, mangrove swamps and tropical rainforest habitats.

Ocean Hall: The hall is designed to give off the feeling as if you have just entered into a large sized aquarium. Just beyond the entrance is a preserved jaw of a prehistoric shark. If you look up you will notice that the entire ceiling is almost hidden by a replica of a 45-foot North Atlantic Right Whale. Towards the sides are smaller giant squid models but that’s not all you will get to learn amazing facts about oceanography and discover the evolution of many sea creatures.

There are many other smaller exhibits such as the Hall of bones, African voices, Ant House, Gems and other artefacts from the past. The famous Hope Diamond is featured here in their geology section. Don’t miss your chance to discover the world as we know it. Who knew learning could be so much fun?