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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Children exploring hands-on exhibit

At a Glance

  • Advanced reservations may be required

Schedule a guided, inquiry-centered program to enhance your students’ field trip experience. These programs offer hands-on access to objects from the museum’s collection with a guided, inquiry-centered program. Programs expand themes from the Museum’s exhibitions and engage students in the kinds of research activities that Museum scientists conduct every day.

Hands-on programs take place in the exhibit halls and in Museum labs and classrooms. Many programs require advance reservations. Please see the details for each program for further information about reservations.


Child touching bones

Discovery Room

  • Grades K-8
  • Reservations required
  • Free
Illustration of skulls

Forensic Lab

  • Grades 4-12
  • Reservations Required
  • Free
Butterfly wing

Insect Zoo

  • Grades K-12
  • Reservations NOT required
  • Free

Child at a discovery cart

Discover Stations

  • Grades K-10
  • Free and Reservations NOT required

Located in exhibitions

Butterfly

Butterfly Pavilion

  • Grades K-12
  • Reservations required
  • Admission charge (Free Tuesdays)
IMAX movie poster

Johnson IMAX Theater

  • Grades 3-12 (Recommended)
  • Reservations required
  • Admission Charge

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