Located in Washington D.C., the National Museum of Natural History is one of the Smithsonian Institution Museums. Housed in a park like backgrounds, this museum is regarded as one of the largest museums in the world. An array of 28 inter-connected buildings, wondrous and old specimens of plants, fossils, and minerals are not the only amazing things about this museum. It is a huge scientific laboratory kind of a museum having a crew of 225 scientists employed inside. Interested in seeing dinosaurs? Go there! But, before you head to the destination, make sure you know these intriguing and interesting facts about the American Museum of Natural History:
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1. The British Museum Site!
Until the year 1992, the National Museum of Natural History was known as the British Museum (Natural History) or BM (NH). This abbreviation still stays in the official papers and academics. It is because the earlier present British Museum site was limited to house the natural history departments.
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2. A tourist Magnet For Sure!
It is the most Visited Museum among the Smithsonian Museum in America. In 2009, on an average, 7.9 million people visited this place. People love it as the place has so much inside. The collection is extraordinary and stunning! Annually, the museum receives about 5 million visitors approximately.
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3. Want To See Working Scientists?
The museum has a full-time scientific staff of 225 working there inside the premises. It is known to be the largest Group of Scientists working and studying nature and cultural history in the world.
source: Wikipedia, image: nmnh.typepad.com
4. More Than A Century Old!
The museum was opened on March 17, 1910. It is more than a century old now!
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5. Dinosaurs Inside!
There is a Hall of Dinosaurs inside the Museum which is most visited by the kids. The Hall of Dinosaurs has a collection of forty-six complete fossilized dinosaurs. Don’t forget to experience the fight between the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Triceratops.
source: aviewoncities.com, image: dinosours.files.wordpress.com
6. Most Famous Artifacts!
The Museum possesses the most famous artifacts in the world including the collection of more than 125 million natural specimen and artifacts. The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins exhibit features more than 285 fossils and artifacts. The Sant Ocean Hall exhibition demonstrates how the ocean is connected to other global systems of the world.
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7. How Big Is That?
The museum has a 1.5-million-square-foot building featuring a Roman-style doorway entrance. It is one of the biggest museums in the world having a huge amount of space. The museum is also one of the three largest museums in Albert polis.
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8. The World Famous “Hope Diamond”
The National Museum of Natural History has the most popular diamond in the whole world, “Hope Diamond”. This 45.52 karat gem is the second most visited artwork after the legendary Mona Lisa.
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9. The Same Man Who Invented Dark Chocolate!
When the Museum opened, the main exhibition was a collection of animal and human skeletons and fossils of plants that belonged to the renowned physician Hans Sloane. He is also the same man who invented dark chocolate.
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10. Pay A Visit For Free!
Another bonus for all the visitors is that entry to the Natural History Museum is absolutely free. It’s just the special exhibits that require you to pay the admission fees if any!
source: visitlondon.com
11. Don’t Miss The 30 Meter Blue Whale!
If you visit the museum, you also get to see a 30-meter blue whale in the zoological section of the Natural History Museum.
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12. Borrow The Gadgets And Have Fun!
The museum has 360 devices (iPhone and iPod) which have an application cum a navigation tool installed in them, “Explorer”. These devices can easily be borrowed during the visit and provide you with detailed touring of the halls and a scavenger hunt option.
source: nyc-arts.org
13. Enjoy A Movie Afterwards!
The museum has an IMAX Theater for watching films and the Discovery Room on the first floor. Don’t forget to buy the tickets on your visit!
source: Wikipedia, image: c.slashgear.com
