Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

Leafing Through History: Discovering the Roots of Plant Classification

See a selection of herbals, the scientific illustrations that have helped taxonomists clarify their work.

March 30, 2001 – May 30, 2001

Natural History Museum

Listening to the Prairie: Farming in Nature's Image

This interactive exhibition on agriculture in the North American prairie explores the human history of the prairies.

November 18, 2000 – March 31, 2001

Natural History Museum

Mammals on the Move: Anteaters: Fast Food Specialists

Through photographs, objects, an interactive, and a video in this 8-foot kiosk, learn about 4 kinds of anteaters and the challenges they face in finding a full-course meal of ants and termites.

October 16, 2000 – March 28, 2001

Natural History Museum

Desert and Sea: Visions of Baja California

This bilingual exhibition features more than 60 color photographs by 6 photographers that depict the forces of change and relationships among geology, climate, and the diversity of living things.

September 12, 2000 – March 12, 2001

Natural History Museum

Buccellati: Art in Gold, Silver and Gems

See more than 75 one-of-a-kind works by goldsmiths and jewelry designers Mario and Gianmaria Buccellati of Milan, Italy.

October 21, 2000 – March 11, 2001

Natural History Museum

Nature's Best: Nature Photography

The 43 winning photographs from the Nature's Best & CEMEX International Photography Awards as well as other entries from the competition are on view.

October 25, 2000 – March 1, 2001

Natural History Museum

Dresden Green Diamond

Marvel at the 41-carat Dresden Green Diamond, the largest natural green diamond in the world.

October 13, 2000 – January 17, 2001

Natural History Museum

Galapagos: A Living Laboratory

This research case features specimens of new species and information on how the movie Galapagos was made, along with an explanation of why the Galapagos Islands are important and information on the work of Smithsonian scientists who are featured in the film.

October 23, 1999 – November 13, 2000

Natural History Museum

Selections from Forces of Change: A New View of Nature

See 28 large-format photographs from the book Forces of Change: A New View of Nature.

June 8, 2000 – September 24, 2000

Natural History Museum

Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga

Commemorating the 1,000-year anniversary of the Vikings' landing in North America, this exhibition explores the impact of Leif Ericsson's journey and introduces new archaeological evidence that expands knowledge of early Scandinavian and North American life.

April 29, 2000 – August 13, 2000

Natural History Museum

In Place of Prairie

Forty-eight photographs -- mostly black-and-white -- by Terry Evans reveal the beauty and diversity of prairies and the people who settled them.

November 30, 1999 – March 7, 2000

Natural History Museum

Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People

Take an in-depth look at the 10,000-year-old culture of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, revealed through some 200 objects and artworks.

April 30, 1999 – January 2, 2000

Natural History Museum

Orchids in the First Floor Lobby

Admire a large grouping of a variety of orchids, rotated weekly from the Smithsonian greenhouses for constant blooms.

January 1, 1982 – December 31, 1999

Natural History Museum

Red Alert

This case presents the Red List, the 1st global list of endangered and extinct flowering plants, conifers, and ferns, researched and compiled by scientists in the Museum's Dept. of Botany and others.

September 21, 1998 – November 26, 1999

Natural History Museum

The Coral Reef: Researching a Living System

Both an exhibit and a working research facility, the coral reef exhibit enables visitors to watch the behavior of hundreds of living sea plants and animals in a complex natural community.

October 15, 1980 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Living Marine Ecosystems: The Maine Coast

The North Atlantic counterpart to the popular Living Coral Reef exhibition displays the varied plant and animal life of the rocky shoreline, the mud flats, the salt marshes, and the intertidal waters of Maine.

June 28, 1985 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

In Search of Giant Squid

Two preserved giant squids are on view, one a rare species never before displayed publicly anywhere in the world.

May 27, 1994 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Deep Sea Dives to Biological Frontiers

Giant worms, crabs, other deep sea life, and rocks acquired in the Galapagos rift will be added to the large-scale model of Submarine "Alvin," already on display.

February 1, 1982 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Bird Hall

All 27 orders, encompassing 9,000 known bird species from all over the world, are represented here in realistic settings with their differences in form, size, and color emphasized.

March 22, 1956 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Exploring Marine Ecosystems

This renovated exhibition explores two of the many ecosystems contained within the earth's oceans: a tropical coral reef and a temperate rocky shore reef.

May 19, 1995 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Hydrolab

Discover the Hydrolab, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's underwater research lab, used for dozens of undersea research projects involving scientists/aquanauts from all over the world.

May 15, 1986 – October 3, 1999

Natural History Museum

Margaret Mee: Return to the Amazon

View 52 botanical watercolors of the Amazon by this artist and conservationist (1909-1988) who devoted her life to recording the beauty and diversity of the Amazon.

May 27, 1999 – August 22, 1999

Natural History Museum

Tales of the Blue Crab

Live crabs, crab sculptures, text panels, pilings, and a "Crab Lab" research station teach school children about life in the Chesapeake Bay.

May 13, 1999 – May 16, 1999

Natural History Museum

Year of the Tiger

Marvel at some 40 photographs by wildlife photographer Michael Nichols, from the National Geographic book Year of the Tiger.

November 11, 1998 – April 26, 1999

Natural History Museum

Contemporary Korean Ceramics

See 33 contemporary works inspired by centuries-old ceramic traditions; from mixing clay and preparing glazes to ritual offerings of food and wine at wood-fired kilns.

October 22, 1997 – January 22, 1999

Natural History Museum