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If you've ever dreamed of stepping inside the pages of National Geographic, your chance has arrived.
After nearly four years of renovations, the National Geographic Society has officially opened the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C.—and it trades the traditional "look but don't touch" museum model for something much more immersive.
Housed in the Society's revamped headquarters at 1600 M Street NW, the more than 100,000-square-foot attraction invites guests to wander through interactive exhibitions, learn about cutting-edge scientific discoveries and get a behind-the-scenes look at some of National Geographic's most iconic expeditions, versus quietly admiring artifacts behind glass.
"The future of exploration belongs to all of us," National Geographic Society CEO Jill Tiefenthaler said in announcing the opening, describing the museum as a place designed to inspire visitors to "ask bigger questions.”
Among the permanent highlights is “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth,” where photographer Joel Sartore's wildlife portraits surround visitors in a 360-degree gallery. Elsewhere, the Society's archives reveal historic field notes, artifacts and photographs from legendary expeditions, while rotating exhibitions mean there will always be something new to discover. Families can also stop by the National Geographic Learning Launchpad, an interactive geography and mapmaking space designed for school groups.
One of the museum's biggest showstoppers is the new Geoverse, a 270-degree immersive theater created in partnership with the mapping technology company Esri. Rather than watching a standard documentary, visitors are surrounded by sweeping digital landscapes that showcase the work of National Geographic Explorers and show how geography and technology come together to deepen understanding of the planet. The theater's programming will change throughout the year, so repeat visitors will have new worlds to explore.
Each evening, the courtyard transforms into “Wonders of Our World: Ocean,” a separate 17-minute, ticketed multimedia spectacle produced alongside Montreal-based studio Moment Factory. Using LED displays, projection mapping, spatial audio and interactive floor projections, the outdoor show turns the building itself into an enormous canvas.
And because even explorers need to eat, the museum also includes Explorers Eatery, an international food hall serving dishes inspired by destinations around the world, plus the Ballard Bar, named for famed ocean explorer Robert Ballard.
Whether you're a lifelong National Geographic reader or simply looking for a new museum to explore, this one invites visitors to do much more than just look—it encourages them to participate.