Tag Archives: National Geographic Museum

October 15, 2019 · 7:30 pm

Jane Goodall & National Geographic Bring a Message of Hope to DC

There are few people in the world who are as universally respected, revered, and celebrated as Dr. Jane Goodall. Her groundbreaking studies of chimpanzees and work as an environmental activist have made her not just an inspiration, but a legend to people across the globe, from all different backgrounds and spanning generations.

It’s no wonder that both nights of her talk, entitled Reasons for Hope, at the Anthem in September sold out within hours of going on sale. I wasn’t lucky enough to get tickets to either one, but my luck came in a different way — an invitation to be part of a small press conference with Jane Goodall before the second show. (And as much as I’d like to be completely professional and cool about it, I can’t help but confess it was one of the biggest thrills of my, like, life! Okay, out of my system.)

The ask came from the Jane Goodall Institute and National Geographic, as the Nat Geo Museum here in DC will present Becoming Jane, an exhibition that explores Dr. Goodall’s life and work through immersive media, authentic scenes, and interactives that will appeal to fans and visitors of all ages — it opens to the public on November 22.

The timing couldn’t have been better for both the media event and Jane Goodall’s lectures, which took place just days after the Climate Strike and during the week of the U.N. Climate Action Summit. During both, she discussed her amazing journey to becoming a world-renown primatologist, from her love for animals early on in childhood to her work in the Gombe Forest. But the heart of her talk was about much more than her background and studies of chimpanzees. It was about the environmental crisis our planet is facing.

“We need to take action soon,” Dr. Goodall told us, “Not just acknowledge climate change, but to take action.” She suggested this action begins with everyday choices — being cognizant of how what we buy and what we do impacts the environment. (Side note: Look for upcoming blog posts that focus on ways to do this locally.) She also encourages action in groups and on a larger scale.

Her Reasons for Hope focused greatly on younger generations as the world’s future will be in the hands of our children. In response to a question about the student walkout for the Climate Strike, Dr. Goodall said, “It’s not enough to miss school. Why are you doing it? What are you going to do if you meet a politician?”

She then discussed Roots and Shoots, a community action programme started by the Jane Goodall Institute in 1991, designed to teach youth about conservation and leadership, and empower young people to affect positive change in their communities.

During the press event, I asked her a couple of questions about the exhibition coming to National Geographic. First about the collaboration process, which she explained really began over 50 years ago in the Gombe Forest when National Geographic documented her early work there. (Much of this footage is used to tell Dr. Goodall’s story in the wonderful and inspiring documentary, JANE.)

And in Becoming Jane, every element of the exhibition is based on Dr. Jane Goodall and her work. There will be a replica of her research tent, a hologram-like projection of her sharing memories of working with chimpanzees, a virtural-3D expedition to Gombe Stream National Park, augmented reality activities like matching the pant-hoot vocalization of a chimpanzee, and more engaging installations that highlight her life and work.

Next, I asked what message she hopes people, particularly children, will take away from the exhibition. Without hesitation she answered, “That every person makes a difference.”

And she does hope they will. The exhibit also includes a call to action to join her, the Jane Goodall Institute, and National Geographic in an effort to ensure a more sustainable future for us all as well as a pledge station where visitors can share what actions they will take to help Dr. Goodall in her mission.

Becoming Jane will be at the National Geographic Museum from November 22 through the summer of 2020. Admission is $15, $12/seniors & military, free for ages 5 and under. Museum hours are 10am – 6pm.

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Filed under 2019, All ages, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Fall, Museums, Nature, Spring, Summer, Weekdays, Weekend, Winter

Tagged as Becoming Jane exhibition, Dr. Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, National Geographic Museum, Reasons for Hope

March 7, 2017 · 2:45 pm

Journey with Earth Explorers at the National Geographic Museum

An Earth Explorer journal entry

Want to witness animal migrations from a hot air balloon, submerse in the deep sea to study marine life, discover new species in the rain forest, or gear up for a polar expedition? These are all adventures — simulated ones, anyway — to be experienced at the National Geographic Museum’s newest exhibition.

An explorer greeting at the entrance

Earth Explorers takes you on a journey around the globe, offering a glimpse into the work and passion of real explorers in the field. Hands-on displays, interactive installations, and Nat Geo’s signature stunning visuals are your guides in this informative, inspiring, and fun experience.

Eye-popping exhibits will thrill all ages

Learn more about this featured Earth Explorer

The exhibit features six stations covering different regions and types of explorations: Base Camp, Oceans, Rain Forests, Mountains and Caves, African Savannah, and Polar Regions. Each area provides a sense of the work environment in its particular setting. Video footage and photos let you see the places and wildlife that exists there. Gear on display shows you the equipment needed to do the work. And field journals from the explorers provide insight into their work — how they got started, how they approach expeditions, what impels them to probe the unknown, and advice for future explorers.

Journals reveal more about each explorer

The view from the sub

Get a bird’s eye view of the African savannah

Guests can get even more of a feel for the work in immersive installations that replicate the experiences of the explorers. Delve into the ocean in a submarine, take an aerial survey of the African savannah from a hot air balloon, study ecosystems under a tent in the rain forest, check out an Arctic cabin and learn how scientists study polar animals, and ride in an off road vehicle used in the field. These are just some of the larger interactive elements. Smaller ones, like touchscreen displays and fun, wall-mounted trivia games, abound.

Chill out in an Arctic cabin

Interactives are fun and educational

There are so many neat details to the exhibit that you’ll feel like an explorer yourself as you go through it. You don’t want to miss something that might provide key insight into a particular region or expedition or discovery. And a unique supplement is an interactive digital experience that utilizes an advanced technology, augmented reality (AR), to bring various animals inside the exhibit to life on your iOS or Android device.

Tropical trivia

Earth Explorers is also an exhibit with all-ages appeal. While probably best for about ages 8-13 — there is quite a bit of reading and information that older kids will digest more easily — younger children will love the hands-on and immersive parts along with striking and playful imagery and video. No matter what age, it’s meant to inspire and get kids to think about what they might want to be when they grow up.

It’s given me all kinds of ideas! 😉

Earth Explorers is on view at the National Geographic Museum through September 10, 2017. Tickets are $15/adult, $12/seniors, student, & military, $10/ages 5-12, free for under 5. Museum hours are 10am – 6pm.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Museums, Nature, Tweens, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as DC Exhibits for Kids, DC Family Activities, DC Museums, Earth Explorers, Educational Exhibits, Fun Things to do with Kids in Northern Virginia, National Geographic Museum

February 18, 2016 · 6:08 pm

Animal Close-Ups & Crocs at the National Geographic Museum

If you don’t get off the well trodden museum path of the National Mall every now and then, you could miss out on some amazing exhibitions in other areas around DC. One place where you can just about always count on a great, enriching experience is the National Geographic Museum. The exhibits often appeal to a wide age range, include interactive elements that engage visitors, and focus on aspects of the world that are both fascinating and significant.

In fact, there currently are two exhibits at Nat Geo that meet these standards — and then some. Photo Ark, which opened in the fall is a gorgeous collection of portraits of the world’s animal species.

The exhibit puts the focus on conservation through photographer Joel Sartore’s lens by showcasing images of species and highlighting their conservation status, which range from least concern to threatened to endangered to, sadly, extinct (with more levels in between).

Many of the portraits were shot at zoos and aquariums around the world, and you can get an idea of how some of them were done by peering into photo tents on display — inside are adorable videos of small animals posing for their close-ups. You can also catch scenes of the process on TV screens mounted on the walls.

A whole area is dedicated to various species of reptiles and snakes, their unique features and brilliant skin patterns projected on and streaming across large screens. There is also information about each creature and quotes printed on the walls. All of it together makes the exhibit as thought-provoking and engaging as it is beautiful.

The museum zooms in on one animal with a whole other exhibit: CROCS. And it’s one you can really sink your teeth into (from their tagline!) through a variety of interesting displays, interactive components, video, and live crocodiles!

We joined a guided tour of the exhibit to get some background on crocodilians, which are up to hundreds of millions years old. But you can learn a lot on your own from the many displays and installations. Some of the kids’ favorite features included a sound board where they could listen to different croc calls, a force gauge to compare their strength to that of a croc’s jaw, and a life-sized model of one of the world’s largest crocodiles, Gomek.

The highlight, though, were the real crocodiles in a few dioramas around the exhibit that were made to simulate their natural habitats. The crocs don’t actually do that much — just seeing an eye or mouth open or a foot move the tiniest bit was cause for excitement — but it was pretty neat to see them hanging out in the museum. You might catch baby alligators swimming in one of them, which is a pretty cute sight.

You can check out both of the National Geographic exhibits in one outing — they don’t take a long time to tour (though you could definitely spend a good amount of time if you wanted to), and admission to the museum gets you into everything. Even better, both can be appreciated by visitors of all ages.

Photo Ark will be on view through April 10, CROCS through May 8. Admission is $15/adult, $12/seniors & students, $10/ages 5-12, free for 4 and under — look for a discount here. The museum is open daily 10am – 6pm.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Museums, Spring, Weekdays, Weekend, Winter

Tagged as CROCS, DC Family Activities, DC Museums, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Museum Exhibits for Kids, National Geographic Museum, Photo Ark

March 26, 2015 · 10:34 pm

Go Monster Fish at the National Geographic Museum

The National Geographic Museum just debuted its newest exhibit, and true to what I consider their signature style when it comes to these showcases, it’s fascinating and educational and fun all at once.

Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants takes visitors on a journey around the globe to discover some of the behemoth creatures that lurk beneath the world’s rivers. Based on the Nat Geo WILD series Monster Fish, the exhibit highlights nearly 20 fish that show host Dr. Zeb Hogan has found and featured in various episodes.

Owen and I got a sneak preview before it opened to the public, including a chance to tour part of it with Zeb himself, and we both found it interesting and fun to view and experience. The displays are presented by regions of the world with background on different kinds of fish, supplemented with video from the series, photography, and some other interesting visuals, like actual scales from some species. But the centerpieces of it all are magnificent sculptures of several fish, commissioned for the exhibit and intricately designed to convey just how massive and unique the river dwellers are. Even better, a couple of them are actually accessible to visitors — you can touch the scales of a giant barb and climb upon a sawfish.

The interactive elements don’t stop there — there are games for all to enjoy — and they all relay some kind of lesson in sustainability and conservation. You can maneuver a ball through an ecosystem (a game table that you tilt) to areas designated to protect habitats and avoid ones that are threatening. There’s a giant scale that multiple people can stand on to compare your collective weight to different monster fish. Little ones will love “going fishing” for rubber balls then release them through a plastic chute. Another game has players determine if you keep a fish or throw it back depending on the species and size. You can view footage form the Monster Fish show in a mini-theatre made to look like an air boat. An interesting — and eye-opening — installation shows the “water cost” of our everyday habits.

If you want to see fish, you don’t just have to view the models. There are a few aquariums filled with fish, though aside from one alligator gar, they are all little fishies. But that just illuminates the magnitude of the monsters.

Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants will be at the National Geographic Museum through October 11, 2015. Hours are 9am – 6pm. Admission is $11/adult, $7/ages 5-12, free for 4 and under. FYI: Goldstar has a deal on tickets for select dates.

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Filed under All ages, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Fall, Museums, Spring, Summer, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, Dr. Zeb Hogan, Fun with Kids in Washington DC, Monster Fish, Museum Exhibits for Kids, National Geographic Museum

September 16, 2014 · 11:00 am

“Spinosaurus” is the New Big Thing at Nat Geo

spino

The timing of the National Geographic Museum’s newest exhibit, Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous, is rather auspicious — for them and for us. Just months after the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum began their five-year hiatus for major renovations, Nat Geo debuted this exhibition, and it’s sure to satisfy dino enthusiasts, young and old, jones-ing for a prehistoric beast fix.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is a life-sized skeletal model of Spinosaurus, the first truly semiaquatic dinosaur and the largest predatory dinosaur known to have roamed the Earth. At more than 50 feet long and 20 feet high, Spinosaurus measured more than nine feet longer than the world’s largest T-Rex. Little museum-goers will undoubtedly be enthralled by the colossal installation along with other reproductions of Cretaceous creatures on display.

For those with larger attention spans, the fascinating backstory of Spinosaurus is told through a series of interactive displays. Literally windows into history, they feature panels with “vistas” of various locations in places that were significant in the Spino’s discovery — the office of the paleontologist with the the first findings, a Moroccan fossil market, Milan’s Musuem of Natural History. Multimedia elements such as video from World War II when key artifacts were destroyed and the discovery of Spinosaurus bones in Morocco offer further insight. And real dinosaur fossils, a replica of the cave where most of Spino’s remains were found, and sketches of its first unearthed bones (that were later lost in the war) help complete the narrative.

There’s more beyond the exhibit hall. Don’t miss the life-size “in the flesh” replica of Spinosaurus in the courtyard next to M Street. And if you really want to score big with your dino obsessed child, the museum is offering Young Explorer birthday parties with a Discover Dinosaurs! theme.

Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous will be on display at the National Geographic Museum through April 12, 2015. Admission is $11/adult, $9/senior, $7/ages 5-12, free for 4 and under. Museum hours are 10am – 6pm.