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Experience the Smithsonian Museum of Natural Science at home

By Brian Miller

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: Paleontologist, Hans Sues, of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, talks about a new dinosaur discovery during a news conference at the museum, March 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The newly discovered species named Timurlengia Euotica, lived about 90 million years ago and fills a 20 million year gap in the fossil record of Tyrannosaurs. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: Paleontologist, Hans Sues, of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, talks about a new dinosaur discovery during a news conference at the museum, March 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. The newly discovered species named Timurlengia Euotica, lived about 90 million years ago and fills a 20 million year gap in the fossil record of Tyrannosaurs. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) /
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In Washington, DC, there is a lot of things to do but one museum should not be missed. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural Science, located on the National Mall is an incredible addition to the Smithsonian lineup that makes learning, not quite feel like learning.

At the corner of 10th and Constitution Avenues, the Smithsonian Natural Science museum takes you not only into the historic animal world but the world of early human existence. A visit to the museum will easily fill your day and warrants a repeat viewing at another time if you don’t finish it.

Last March we took the family to Washington and the museum was at the top of our oldest son’s must-view places. We were at first a little tentative as we have younger kids and thought they might get a little bored but that went out the window the second we walked in and instead we found ourselves trying to corral them in from zig-zagging from exhibit to exhibit.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural Science
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 15: Skulls of olinguito, a new species of Carnivore which has been newly discovered, are on display during a news conference August 15, 2013 at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, DC. It took Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and his team on a journey from museum cabinets in Chicago to cloud forests in South America to discover and confirm the new species of olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), which has been mistakenly identified for more than 100 years. It’s also the first carnivore species to be discovered in the American continents in 35 years. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) /

Entering the grand rotunda, a lifesize African elephant stands atop a pedestal looking down to greet visitors. From there, staircases branch upwards as well as elevators for those not wanting or not able to take the stairs. Now, you don’t have to do either one.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the museum has taken another step with science and is now providing virtual tours of the museum. While it is not the same as seeing it in person, you can now enjoy everything it has to offer from your living room couch.

To enjoy this virtual tour, simply click this link and then use your mouse, keyboard, or remote to control the direction and the angles you want to view. the best part, you get to linger as long as you want without having others push you along or out of the way!

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