The National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian Castle is the

symbol of the Smithsonian

 Institution.

Englishman James Smithson donated his estate to the United States for the creation of an establishment, the Smithsonian Institution, increase and diffusion of knowledge.  His gift of $500,000.00 was accepted by Congress in 1836.  Since then, the Smithsonian has become the world's largest museum and research complex with nineteen museums, the National Zoo and nine research facilities.   

We walk up the steps to

the National Museum of

Natural History.

Admission to the Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo is FREE!

 The Museum's 14 foot African Elephant greets visitors

in the atrium.

The National Museum of Natural History is huge.  Its collections include prehistoric man, mammals, dinosaurs, gems and so much more....  I've chosen just a few pictures to represent our visit.

Model of the North Atlantic

 Right Whale 

This species of whale swims slowly in accessible coastal waters, rests on the surface and floats when it has died, making it the right whale for whalers to hunt.

I marvel at the Coral
display.

Visitors can examine models of

the skulls of human ancestors.

The skull of a 14 year old 

is displayed in the lower 

left of the picture.

Animal life in Africa...

A leaping Tiger

A Giraffe reaches up to

eat leaves from a tree.

New York State is represented in gem and mineral section of the museum.

Garnet Amphibolite formed

1.1 billion years ago whnn

Africa & South America 

collided.

This metamorphic rock was mined 

at Gore Mountain, New York.

Mudcracks in Sandstone

formed 416 to 443 years ago,

 during the Silurian Period,in

 Knowlesville, New York.

The gem and mineral collection is amazing!  I could have spent and entire day reading all the displays in this collection.  

Gold in its various

raw forms.

This sheet of Copper was found

between layers of Shale in 

 .Ontonagon County, Michigan

A rainbow of colored

minerals

At 45.54 carats, the Hope Diamond

is the world's largest deep blue

diamond.

It is visited more than any

other display in the museum.

Next stop... Dinosaurs...

 

Triceratops lived 66 -68

million years ago.

This plant eater weighed

13,000 - 22,000 pounds

& was up to 30 feet long.

Tyrannosaurus lived

66 - 68 million years ago.

This meat eater weighed 

up to 15,500 pounds &

was about 40 feet long.

Visitors watch staff & volunteers

prepare & maintain fossils

in FossiLab.

The museum has a fascinating Egyptian Burial Ritual Display.

.

Items taken into the 

afterlife include mummified

internal organs, household

items, jewelry,

The Mummified Divine

Bull was seen as a

manifestation of God &

given full burial rites.

James Smithson's instruction in his bequest to increase and disperse knowledge is on display here.   I look forward to returning to Washington,, DC and touring other National Museums.