The National Geographic Society announced plans to open a museum on its Washington, D.C. campus by mid-2026. The Museum of Exploration will include curated exhibits, a state-of-the-art theater with 400 seats, immersive experiences and hands-on learning.
Visitors to the 100,000-square-foot museum will step through a large yellow border—the iconic yellow frame on the covers of National Geographic—into an explorer’s world. The first exhibit, Rolex Explorers Landing, showcases the gear and tales of some of the bravest expeditions.
An immersive experience allows you to forge through rainforests, dive into the ocean’s depths and see the rarest parts of the world. And after dark, the museum’s Nighttime Courtyard Experience will offer dazzling views of the city skyline.
The new venue aims to further the nonprofit organization’s mission to “illuminate and protect the wonder of our world,” according to a National Geographic press release.
The museum is accessible to all, featuring wellness rooms, Braille texts and American Sign Language translations.
