The National Geographic Society has officially opened its brand-new National Geographic Museum of Exploration to the public. Located at the organization’s transformed global headquarters at 1600 M St. NW in downtown Washington, D.C., the sustainably-built public attraction follows nearly four years of design transformation.
Coinciding with the grand opening, the museum is debuting “Wonders of Our World: Ocean,” a ticketed, 17-minute outdoor nighttime experience held in the newly designed courtyard. Developed in collaboration with multimedia studio Moment Factory, the multisensory production utilizes high-resolution LED screens, spatialized sound, reactive floor projections, and a large smart glass installation to create a 3D illusion across the building facade. The evening show begins with an interactive pre-show, moves through an ocean narrative, and concludes with a post-show interactive bioluminescent wave projection.
The daytime museum features more than 100,000 square feet of public space focused on accessibility and sustainability. Permanent and temporary exhibitions include the Rolex Explorers Landing gallery, historic field notes in The Archives supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., and an interactive map platform called the National Geographic Learning Launchpad, powered by Cengage. Visitors can also access a 270-degree theater called the Jack and Laura Dangermond Esri Geoverse, a 360-degree photography gallery featuring Joel Sartore’s “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth,” and a permanent photography space hosting a United States semiquincentennial exhibition.
The outdoor courtyard features Interactive Ecosystems, powered by EPAM, which includes six distinct planters with life-sized sculptures, soundscapes, and augmented reality. For dining, the site includes the Explorers Eatery international food hall, which offers American, Italian, Moroccan, Peruvian, and Vietnamese cuisine, alongside the Ballard Bar, named after Explorer at Large Robert Ballard.
The museum is hosting a three-day celebration from June 26-28 featuring interactive activities, live cultural performances, and presentation stages. Friday and Saturday programming includes courtyard screen printing with Nirupa Rao, smartphone photography workshops, and meet-and-greets with explorers Sylvia Earle, Albert Lin, and Tara Roberts. The weekend concludes Sunday with family sessions led by the Explorer Technology Lab and Mahogany Mermaids, a culinary interview session with travel host Antoni Porowski, and biodiversity presentations from Ruthmery Pillco Huarcaya and Steve Boyes.
The National Geographic Museum of Exploration will operate daily, with adult general admission tickets starting at $29.99 for daytime gallery access. Entry to the “Wonders of Our World: Ocean” nighttime show requires a separate $10 add-on ticket due to capacity limits. Exhibit signage throughout the facility is presented in both English and Spanish, with Braille messaging and sensory tools available at wayfinding points.
Click here to purchase tickets.
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