National Museum of Natural History Tour: Hope Diamond & Mummies

Walk past countless artifacts with a guide who knows which ones matter

A 2-hour guided tour of the National Museum of Natural History with a professional art historian and a maximum of 8 guests. The tour covers the Hope Diamond, Egyptian mummies, gems and minerals, taxidermied wildlife, and a live coral reef exhibit. Groups stay small enough that the guide can answer questions without rushing through the building's 18 football fields of floor space.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore National Museum of Natural History

• Meet your small group guide
• Visit Hope Diamond exhibit
• See gems and minerals displays
• Explore Ancient Egypt mummies
• View polar bears, elephants, giraffes
• Discover Ocean Hall coral reef
• See 45-ton whale replica Phoenix
• Learn about 126.5 million artefacts

The experience

Your guide leads you straight to the highlights instead of wandering the 126.5 million artifacts on display. You'll stand in front of the Hope Diamond (46 karats of blue that once belonged to Marie Antoinette), and move through the gem and mineral halls to see the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, the world's largest gem of its type. The route then shifts to Ancient Egypt, where you explore real mummies and learn about the death rituals that preserved them, before stepping into the wildlife galleries to see the mounted polar bears, elephants, and giraffes.

The Ocean Hall comes next, where a live coral reef exhibit runs alongside Phoenix, a 45-ton whale replica that the museum tracks in real time. A moderate amount of walking is involved, and the guide will point out which rooms require quiet or have restricted speaking before you enter them. The whole thing takes 2 hours, which means you move at a pace that lets the guide actually talk instead of just pointing.

No large bags or suitcases fit through security. Bring a handbag or small backpack instead. The museum occasionally closes without warning. If that happens more than an hour after your tour's start time, the operator will offer an alternative tour instead of a refund. You'll need to provide a mobile phone number with country code when you book. Public transportation is available nearby, and hotel pickup is not included: the operator recommends Uber or a taxi to get there.

What’s included

• A professional art historian guide leading the group.
• access to the Hope Diamond, gem and mineral halls, Egyptian mummies, wildlife galleries, and the Ocean Hall with live coral reef and 45-ton whale replica.
• 2 hours of guided commentary and route planning through the 126.5 million artifacts on display.

Options for this experience

3 options

Upgrade to a private tourGuide in English · 10:00 and 13:30Private guide just for you: private museum tour; a professional tour guide exclusively for you; lasts 1.5 to 2 hours; wheelchair friendly

A private tour made for families!Guide in English · 10:00 and 13:30A private tour made for families!

Small group tour at 10 amGuide in English · 10:00Group tour with a maximum of 8 guests: not suitable for wheelchairs.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 10:00 and 13:30, from US$ 105 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:30

GroupUp to 85 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (under 10)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Babylon Tours DC

Is this one for you?Book the 10am small group tour if you want to move through the highlights without arranging your own route through 18 football fields of exhibits. Choose the private tour upgrade if your group wants the guide's full attention and the flexibility to linger on the pieces that interest you most.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (under 10).

What is the Hope Diamond and why does the guide spend time on it?

The Hope Diamond is a 46-carat blue diamond that once belonged to Marie Antoinette and is one of the museum's most famous pieces. Its size and brilliant blue color make it a centerpiece of the gem and mineral collection, and the guide covers its history and the science behind its color as part of the tour's opening section.

Does the National Museum of Natural History tour include the Egyptian mummies?

Yes, the tour includes a section on Ancient Egypt where you explore real mummies and learn about the death rituals and preservation methods used thousands of years ago. This section sits between the gem halls and the wildlife galleries.

How many people will be on the tour with me?

The tour welcomes up to 8 guests maximum, which keeps the group small enough that your guide can answer questions and adjust the pace without rushing through the building.

What is Phoenix, the whale in the Ocean Hall?

Phoenix is a 45-ton replica of a real living whale that the museum actively tracks. It sits in the Ocean Hall alongside a live coral reef exhibit, so you see both the replica and a functioning reef ecosystem in the same space.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

A moderate amount of walking is involved. The museum covers the area of 18 football fields, and comfortable shoes are recommended. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and public transportation is available nearby if you need it to reach the museum.

Can I bring a large suitcase or backpack into the museum?

No, large bags and suitcases are not allowed through security. You can bring a handbag or a small thin backpack only. Plan accordingly if you're traveling with luggage.