Spend the morning behind the scenes with curators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, uncovering two of the museum’s collections that showcase the wonders of flora and fauna.
At the United States National Herbarium, find cabinets filled with plants gathered from every corner of the globe. Established in 1848 with specimens from the United States Exploring Expedition—a voyage of discovery in the Pacific that helped lead to the founding of the Smithsonian—the herbarium maintains world-class research on all major groups of plants, algae, and lichens. Housing over 5 million specimens, it ranks among the largest herbariums worldwide. Learn about its rich history, see historic specimens, and explore how herbarium specimens are crucial in advancing research in taxonomy, ecology, and conservation.
The entomology collection is the largest of its kind, with more than 35 million specimens housed in several buildings. The insect, arachnid, and myriapod (which includes centipedes and millipedes) collections are unparalleled in size and scope; they provide valuable specimens and data for understanding the most biologically diverse groups of animals and how they interact with other animals and plants in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. During your visit, discover the importance of insect diversity and its impact on ecosystems. Delve into how scientists at NMNH use these specimens to learn about the biosphere, promote American agriculture and protect it from invasive species, and inform public policy related to pollinators and conservation, food biosecurity, and the study of certain diseases.
Know Before You Go
- Tour participants meet in the lobby of the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Additional Date Options for this Tour
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
