National Museum Tour: Exclusive 2-Hour Guided Experience

Take part in a 2-hour privileged guided journey around the National Museum of Natural History, showcasing unique wonders from across the globe. The tour will take you through the rocks, mammals, and mummies that have been captivating visitors for more than a hundred years.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Your guide will take you to visit the highlights of the collection, housed in a massive building that covers the area of 18 football fields. Gaze into the world-famous Hope Diamond, whose brilliant blue sparkle, and immodest size at 46 karats, captured the attention of former owner Marie Antoinette. Wander through the displays of gems and minerals, including the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, the world’s largest gem of its type, which glows brilliantly from within. Travel back in time to learn about death rituals while exploring real mummies from Ancient Egypt. Then step out of the past into the wild, exploring the mighty polar bears, elephants, and giraffes that roam across earth’s surface. From the land, jump into the sea at the Ocean Hall, where you’ll discover a live coral reef exhibit as well as a 45-ton whale, Phoenix, which is a replica of a real living what that the museum tracks. By the end, you’ll understand why so many people come to visit the 126.5 million artefacts housed at the National Museum of Natural History.
What's Included
  • Duration: 2-hour exclusive tour
  • Personal tour guide included
  • Wheelchair accessible (limitations apply)
  • Educational guided museum tour
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
  • It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
  • Notes: Natural History Museum and other attractions or museums in DC may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with ‘Skip the Line’ or ‘No Wait’ access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
Location
1010 Madison Dr NW
Madison Drive Northwest
Meet your guide on the large stairs at the Madison Drive NW entrance of the Museum of Natural History, facing the lawn of the National Mall.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(370 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Isabellaboston2017
Oct 1, 2024
Critters of all categories! - Be sure to go! I was too tired to take full advantage, and so only had the endurance to see the mammals. Not many places to rest your feet; gift shops are small and multiple, and geared towards kids cultch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B641xnjeffg
Sep 30, 2024
An Expert Historian - Leigh was incredible. She explained, in great detail, the entire story of the Hope Diamond, as well as the enire history of mummies, from how they were prepared for burial, to the disrespect their remains were subjected to in the last century. In every subject covered in the museum, she was an expert.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ron_b
Sep 28, 2024
Amazing museum - An amazing museum with so much to see. From dinosaurs to the Hope Diamond! Our guide Kate was excellent.
Review provided by Viator
Abbyfam
Sep 22, 2024
Great museum tour - Fantastic private tour of the museum with our guide Brenda!! Great pace and she pointed out so many items we might have missed on our own. Such a large museum we were so happy to have Brenda lead us through to focus on all the highlights in 2 hours. Brenda always checked in to see if we wanted more or less info/time in certain areas of the museum and kept us on pace to ensure we got to every area with her before the end of the tour. Great tour company as well. Reached out to Babylon with an initial concern we might be late due to travel hiccups and they responded immediately also providing our guide’s number to ensure we stayed in touch. Brenda was so great connecting and clarifying meeting point. We were quite happy booking this tour vs going through museum on our own given our time constraints and Brenda was a wealth of knowledge but didn’t overwhelm us either! Would book again and request Brenda for sure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation737202
Sep 21, 2024
Great Tour of Museum Must Sees - Brenda was very knowledgeable and showed us all the must sees in just over 2.5 hours. She had great recommendations for the city as well. We definitely would have missed some of these things without her!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Demi_j
Sep 16, 2024
Great highlights tour! - The museum is so big, you’d have a hard time navigating it yourself. Leah was very animated did an excellent job showing us the highlights and sharing the stories behind the history. I’d definitely book another tour with her again!
Review provided by Viator
John
Sep 6, 2024
Natural history museum - Loved this tour of the Natural History and American History Museum. Maureen our tour guided was very pleasant and knowledgeable. She showed us so much in the time allotted and was mindful of me needing to take break stops. If you ever get a chance to take a tour, this one is great…. Ask for Maureen
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Btdeem
Aug 18, 2024
Wonderful, enjoyable, and enlightening! - Brenda was very accommodating and most knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed the private experience! The extra little tidbits about exhibits was icing on the cake.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Appletonwibbq_guy
Aug 8, 2024
Dynamic guides and enhanced museum visit for sales team activity - Great tour guides! Great pre tour communication...completely enhanced the museum visit. Our guides were Brenda, Chris, Maureen and Rebecca.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heathermeehna
Aug 7, 2024
Great private tour of Natural History Museum with Brenda! - Brenda was informative, friendly and funny. Very entertaining tour and would highly recommend for anyone looking to do a deeper dive than you could do on your own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today