National Museum of Natural History

The scale

The collections hold over 148 million specimens

The collections include plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks and meteorites, and form the largest natural history collection in the world. About 185 professional natural history scientists work at the museum.

148 millionspecimens in the collections

1846

The collection began in 1846 inside the Smithsonian Castle

The United States National Museum was founded in 1846 as part of the Smithsonian Institution. A formal exhibit hall opened in 1858. The National Museum Building, now the Arts and Industries Building, was built in just 15 months and opened in March 1881.

1910

The Natural History Building opened its doors on March 17, 1910

Congress authorized a new building on June 28, 1902, and the firm of Hornblower and Marshall was chosen to design it. The building was not fully completed until June 1911.

Gems

The Hope Diamond has had its own exhibit since 2009

The museum marked the 50th anniversary of acquiring the Hope Diamond in August 2009 by giving the gemstone its own exhibit and a new setting. The collection also includes the Star of Asia, one of the largest sapphires in the world.

Halls

The Koch Hall of Human Origins opened on the museum's 100th anniversary

The Koch Hall of Human Origins opened on March 17, 2010. The Hall of Dinosaurs has fossilized skeletons and cast models, including a Tyrannosaurus rex cast facing a Triceratops cast.