National Geographic’s Museum of Exploration takes shape in DC

The National Geographic Society s new museum is taking shape in downtown D C promising to offer a one-of-a-kind experience as it tells the story of the wonders of the world The National Geographic Museum of Exploration has been under construction for several years but now the project has passed the halfway-mark with an expected opening set for the middle of We are finalizing all the exhibits and experiences that we re going to be putting into the space and we re excited to open to locals and tourists next year announced Chief Campus and Experiences Officer Emily Dunham Dunham noted construction for the museum which expanded its footprint to square-feet is complete The museum covers National Geographic s entire campus along M Street between th and th streets NW For one of the highlights of the museum visitors do not even need to go inside The museum boasts a high-tech courtyard which will bring the building to life in the evening with an immersive show projected onto the museum s entrance Related stories Tuition meets exploration at new DC National Geographic museum set to open in Plan to revitalize downtown DC would cost million Bowser announces plan to transform DC market system The first show will take visitors into the ocean This is going to be like nothing else in D C and we re excited to welcome people here every night to experience the magic of the oceans Dunham revealed during a tour of the museum with D C Mayor Muriel Bowser Visitors will enter the museum through a yellow perimeter which is National Geographic s iconic logo Inside more immersive exhibits await those who enter We ll have a photography gallery National Geographic is known of program for our photography An archives experience that is about the history of National Geographic an guidance space that we re calling the learning launchpad where students learn what geography is And then several immersive experiences including our brand story in the auditorium Dunham reported of the exhibits National Geographic is best known for its famous magazine which is still published in contemporary times And once the new museum opens its doors visitors will also be able to watch teams design the magazine The museum is not located close to several of the city s other museums and will make it a destination away from the National Mall for around a million visitors each year We expect to be driving tourists up from the Mall and helping them to experience parts of D C that they might not otherwise Dunham explained The museum also expects to not only be a place for tourists but especially for D C -area schoolchildren as they learn about the planet and the importance of protecting it After touring the museum Bowser commented it will continue D C s work to offer multiple educational experiences for kids and their families One significant thing about everything we do around tourism is constantly to be innovating and adding something new and exciting for people to see and this will definitely fit the bill she stated Source