The National Museum of Natural History is a gem within the Smithsonian Institutions, a Washington D.C. museum for anyone who loves viewing and interacting with exhibits about all creatures large and small, alive and extinct. You can explore the history and culture of Africa, examine the lives and deaths of dinosaurs and gaze at the beauty of rare gems in the museum's temporary and permanent exhibitions.
Best and worst times to go to the National Museum of Natural History
If you like to view exhibits in relative quiet, visit between Monday and Wednesday, or any weekday during September and February. Want a more communal - read, crowded with school kids - experience? Go on Saturday or anytime from mid-March through late June, when schools from around the country plan their annual D.C. excursions.
Must-see/do at the National Museum of Natural History
Hope Diamond: One of the largest – 45.52 carats – and most perfect dark-blue diamonds in the world that attracts thousands of visitors daily, making it one of the most visited gems in history.
Butterfly Pavilion: Stroll through this tropical oasis containing butterflies and exotic plants from around the world. (Tickets: $4.50 to $6)
David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins: View fossils and early artifacts that show how humans evolved over 6 million years.
Admission to the National Museum of Natural History
Most exhibitions are free. Selected displays require tickets for about $5. Films in the IMAX theaters range from $6 to $15.
How to get to the National Museum of Natural History
Located at 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C., the best way to get to the National Museum of Natural History is via the Metrorail's blue, silver and orange lines. Take the Smithsonian Station or Federal Triangle stops. Limited street parking is available, and commercial parking lots are scattered throughout the area.
Food at the National Museum of Natural History
Choose between the ground floor's Atrium Café, with a wide range of culinary specialties; or Café Natural, for espresso, sandwiches and desserts. Food trucks also line up outside the museum.
Insider tips for visitors to the National Museum of Natural History
Don't miss Lucy, the nickname for this 3.2 million-year-old early human skeleton. And pay a visit to the museum store that has beautiful gemstones and guides to dinosaurs and butterflies.
Author's bio: Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a prize-winning writer and editor who has lived in the Washington D.C. metro area for 25 years.