National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History stands at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in the United States. The neoclassical building opened in 1910 and is among the most visited museums in the world. At its center, a rotunda holds a massive African bush elephant, and nearby halls present dinosaurs, fossils, mammals, ocean life, human origins and one of the world's best collections of gems and minerals. The most famous single object is the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond in the Harry Winston Gallery, which draws steady queues. The Deep Time hall traces the history of life on Earth with a T. rex skeleton and extinct mammals, while the Sant Ocean Hall features a model of a North Atlantic right whale. The Butterfly Pavilion, the O. Orkin Insect Zoo and IMAX films charge a separate fee, but general admission and most exhibits are free. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm and closed December 25. A visit typically takes two to three hours, and a focused route through the dinosaurs, the gems and the oceans fills a morning. Photo opportunities include the rotunda elephant, the whale model and the gem displays, though glass glare is common. Crowds are heaviest on weekends, in spring, and during summer school breaks; arriving at opening on a weekday lets visitors see the Hope Diamond with a short wait. A cafe and a shop are on site, and Metro stations Smithsonian and Federal Triangle are within a short walk.