Official Guide To The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

by Smithsonian Institution

With more than 124 million specimens, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History houses one of the world's most important collections of natural history artifacts. This lavishly illustrated guidebook offers a beautiful tour and souvenir of the exciting collections.

Starting with the history of the museum and a peek behind the scenes, readers then enter the museum through the Rotunda, where they are greeted by the famous elephant diorama—the world's largest mounted specimen of this enormous mammal. The tour continues into the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, home to the legendary Hope Diamond. The Fossils section traces the history of life on earth, from the earliest organisms to the great diversity of plants and animals in the modern world. Biology features living species, including the incredible array of furry creatures in the brand new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. The Anthropology section examines human evolution, exploring cultures from all over the globe. The book's final section is devoted to experiences beyond the museum galleries—the IMAX theater, Jazz Café, and naturalist center in Leesburg, Virginia, where visitors get hands-on experience doing scientific research. This sturdy, flexibound guide also includes phone numbers, directions, hours, and all the other essential information needed to ensure a rewarding visit.

Genres: Science, Reference, Travel, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution or simply the Smithsonian is a group of museums, education and research centres created by the United States federal government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge"

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

While previous editions of this book were already excellent, this 2020 revised edition is even better, as it came out shortly after the major, multi-year renovation of the Fossil Hall — right before the 2019 opening and then immediate closing due to COVID.

While the book could have used more dinosaurs (you can never have too many dinosaurs), it's a truly complete, hall-by-hall overview of one of the world's premiere natural history museums —right up there with the American in New York. Can't wait to revisit!!*

Highly recommended addition to the bookshelf of any natural history nerd (they're a thing, right?) — especially if you can find it for under $3, as I did at Manassas' famous "McKay Used Books" this weekend. An afternoon very well spent :)

* And actually read the whole thing over the past two days (so moving from "reference" to "read"), as we DID revisit today and it was GREAT.

[RumBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a museum I have always wanted to visit. This guide was fascinating. It talked about the history of the museum, and it's many exhibitions. I learned about the Gem Gallery, the elephant display in the rotunda, the fossils and much more. There is such a wide range of artifacts and objects at this museum, you could take days exploring it all. The photography was incredible.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to go back!! 😭

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 / 5.0

PRETTY LEAN AND SCANT FOR GUIDE BOOK. SEEMS DESIGNED FOR READING WHILE WALKING THROUGH EXHIBITS RATHER THAN A OVERVIEW OF THE MUSEUM.