Note: Tours subject to docent availability

September - June:
• Every Tues.-Thurs., 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM
• Every Fri., 10:30 AM (and 1:30 PM tour as announced by docent)

Except
• Federal holidays, no tours

The Discovery Room is a hands-on room for families with children and students. The room features activities using real museum objects and artifacts that allow visitors to explore the natural world at their own pace, guided by their own interests and sense of wonder. Visitors can look at fossils, skulls, shells, and minerals; use a microscope; try on costumes from around the world; and much more. Docents are available to assist and answer questions.

Entry Procedures:
• Individuals:
- For families with children and students. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

- Walk-in, except on busy days, free, timed passes are required and are distributed at the Room's entrance.

- Tues.-Thurs., 12 Noon-2:30 PM
- Fri., 10:30 AM-2:30 PM
- Sat. and Sun., 10:30 AM-3:30 PM

• School Groups:
October-May: by reservation only; 3-week notice required; call 202-633-1071 or 202-633-9287 (TTY); for information, visit the Web at www.mnh.si.edu/education/discoveryroom.htm

Visitors can watch through large windows museum technicians at work removing fossilized dinosaur remains from blocks of earth.

Note: Although there is no set schedule when staff are working in the lab, visitors can still see the lab and examples of fossils at various stages being extracted.

A special facility where visitors can watch -- and hold -- live insects and their many legged relatives, discover the amazing diversity of arthropods, and learn how scientists study insect life.

• Open daily, same hours as museum

Tarantula Feedings (unless otherwise posted):
• Every Tues.- Fri., 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM
• Every Sat., Sun., 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM

Note: Group reservations are no longer available, but group leader packets still available; call the museum's Education Office at 202-633-1077 or 202-633-9287 (TTY).

A resource center of some 36,000 natural history and anthropological specimens where visitors, students, collectors, and natural history lovers can handle and study these objects, identify their own treasures, do research, draw, and more.

• Every Tues.-Sat., 10:30 AM-4 PM

Except
• Most federal holidays, closed

Note: The Center is closed during severe weather when hazardous driving conditions exist (e.g., snow, ice). Recommend callers/visitors call 703-779-9712 (voice), 800-729-7725 (voice), or 202-633-9287 (NMNH's TTY) for directions, information, and weather-related closings.

Entry Procedures:
• Individuals:
- Walk-in, free. Visitors must be 10 years of age or older to visit the main study gallery. A small Family Learning Center is available for younger guests.

• Groups:
- Groups of 6 or more admitted with advance reservations only; 2- to 4-week notice required.

- Call 703-779-9712 (voice), 800-729-7725 (voice), or 202-633-9287 (NMNH's TTY) for information.

-- Lecture Series
• Saturdays, May 10, 24, and 31, 1-2:30 PM
See Chron. section of Calendar for details.