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[music] [pause]

GLORIA: Hi, I'm Gloria.
GLORIA: Hi, I'm Gloria.

NICK: And I'm Nick. We'd like to welcome
NICK: And I'm Nick. We'd like to welcome

you to the Smithsonian Institution's National
you to the Smithsonian Institution's National

Museum of Natural History.
Museum of Natural History.

GLORIA: Since the Museum opened in 1910
GLORIA: Since the Museum opened in 1910

more people have visited here than any other
more people have visited here than any other

Museum in the world.
Museum in the world.

NICK: It contains more than 126 million
NICK: It contains more than 126 million

specimens, artifacts, field notes and photographs.
specimens, artifacts, field notes and photographs.

GLORIA: Who do you think has to count them all?
GLORIA: Who do you think has to count them all?

NICK: Well I'm glad it's not me! You definitely
NICK: Well I'm glad it's not me! You definitely

won't be able to see everything in one day.
won't be able to see everything in one day.

GLORIA: We'll explore just a small part
GLORIA: We'll explore just a small part

of the Museum and see what your day here might
of the Museum and see what your day here might

be like.
be like.

NICK: We'll also give you a few tips to
NICK: We'll also give you a few tips to

make the most of your visit.
make the most of your visit.

GLORIA: Let's go take a look.
GLORIA: Let's go take a look.

[MUSIC] [PAUSE]
[MUSIC] [PAUSE]

NICK: There are two entrances to the Museum
NICK: There are two entrances to the Museum

and all bags are checked.
and all bags are checked.

It's best to avoid bringing your backpack.
It's best to avoid bringing your backpack.

You can then FAST TRACK your entrance into
You can then FAST TRACK your entrance into

the Museum.
the Museum.

GLORIA: The Museum doesn't have any student
GLORIA: The Museum doesn't have any student

lockers. You'll need to leave your lunch and
lockers. You'll need to leave your lunch and

any bags you don't want to carry on the bus,
any bags you don't want to carry on the bus,

but you're welcome to eat outside on the MALL.
but you're welcome to eat outside on the MALL.

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[music]

A great place to start is at the AFRICAN BUSH
A great place to start is at the AFRICAN BUSH

ELEPHANT, which has been on display since
ELEPHANT, which has been on display since

1959. It weighs eight tons - that's over 7,000
1959. It weighs eight tons - that's over 7,000

kilograms!
kilograms!

NICK: Your parents might even remember it
NICK: Your parents might even remember it

if they visited here on a school trip.
if they visited here on a school trip.

GLORIA: You are welcome to take photographs,
GLORIA: You are welcome to take photographs,

or to use video cameras to help you to remember
or to use video cameras to help you to remember

some of the cool exhibits that you will see.
some of the cool exhibits that you will see.

NICK: The Museum has three floors, packed
NICK: The Museum has three floors, packed

with everything from butterflies to dinosaurs
with everything from butterflies to dinosaurs

and diamond dust older than our Solar System...
and diamond dust older than our Solar System...

TOURIST: Is it always like this color? That's
TOURIST: Is it always like this color? That's

really cool!
really cool!

GLORIA: Let's take a look at one of the
GLORIA: Let's take a look at one of the

world's most famous gemstones the HOPE DIAMOND.
world's most famous gemstones the HOPE DIAMOND.

It was found in the 17th Century and has had
It was found in the 17th Century and has had

an amazing history.
an amazing history.

You'll find the HOPE DIAMOND in the GEOLOGY,
You'll find the HOPE DIAMOND in the GEOLOGY,

GEMS AND MINERALS HALL, well worth checking
GEMS AND MINERALS HALL, well worth checking

out.
out.

NICK: In 1958, the HOPE DIAMOND was sent
NICK: In 1958, the HOPE DIAMOND was sent

to the Museum through the Post, in a simple
to the Museum through the Post, in a simple

brown paper parcel.
brown paper parcel.

How do I know that?
How do I know that?

It says so right here. You should check out
It says so right here. You should check out

information panels like this one throughout
information panels like this one throughout

the Museum.
the Museum.

GLORIA: All of the gems belong to you.
GLORIA: All of the gems belong to you.

NICK: Oh, so I can take them home?
NICK: Oh, so I can take them home?

GLORIA: Sorry, they have to stay here. You
GLORIA: Sorry, they have to stay here. You

have to share them with all the people of
have to share them with all the people of

the United States.
the United States.

GUIDE: Well today we have here some raw
GUIDE: Well today we have here some raw

minerals and each of these is used in a product
minerals and each of these is used in a product

that you've probably used in your daily life.
that you've probably used in your daily life.

NICK: If you have any questions you will
NICK: If you have any questions you will

find plenty of people who are happy to answer them.
find plenty of people who are happy to answer them.

If they don't know the answer they will find
If they don't know the answer they will find

someone who does!
someone who does!

GLORIA: You can't touch a lot of the exhibits,
GLORIA: You can't touch a lot of the exhibits,

but you can use interactive stations throughout
but you can use interactive stations throughout

the Museum.
the Museum.

NICK: There are also live exhibits in the
NICK: There are also live exhibits in the

Museum such as those in the ORKIN INSECT ZOO.
Museum such as those in the ORKIN INSECT ZOO.

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GLORIA: The Museum isn't just a place where
GLORIA: The Museum isn't just a place where

people come to look at exhibits; it's also
people come to look at exhibits; it's also

home to many scientists conducting research
home to many scientists conducting research

into the origin and history of Earth and other
into the origin and history of Earth and other

planets, discovering and interpreting the
planets, discovering and interpreting the

diversity and history of life on Earth, and
diversity and history of life on Earth, and

studying human diversity and culture change.
studying human diversity and culture change.

GLORIA: The Ocean covers more than two-thirds
GLORIA: The Ocean covers more than two-thirds

of the planet. It is a global system, essential
of the planet. It is a global system, essential

to all life, including yours!
to all life, including yours!

NICK: Meet PHOENIX, the largest inhabitant
NICK: Meet PHOENIX, the largest inhabitant

of the Sant Ocean Hall.
of the Sant Ocean Hall.

GLORIA: PHOENIX is a full-scale model of
GLORIA: PHOENIX is a full-scale model of

a living North Atlantic Right Whale that scientists
a living North Atlantic Right Whale that scientists

have been tracking since 1987.
have been tracking since 1987.

NICK: Right Whales can weigh as much as
NICK: Right Whales can weigh as much as

12 African Elephants and Whales are one of
12 African Elephants and Whales are one of

the biggest animals that have ever lived!
the biggest animals that have ever lived!

GLORIA: There is so much to see and do in
GLORIA: There is so much to see and do in

the OCEAN HALL that you could spend your entire day here!
the OCEAN HALL that you could spend your entire day here!

NICK: There's NEMO. I found NEMO.
NICK: There's NEMO. I found NEMO.

GLORIA: What's this thing, it looks like
GLORIA: What's this thing, it looks like

a dinosaur.
a dinosaur.

CAROLE: Well that's very good, it actual
CAROLE: Well that's very good, it actual

is the dinosaur of fishes. This is called
is the dinosaur of fishes. This is called

a CELOCANT. And CELOCANTS were known for the
a CELOCANT. And CELOCANTS were known for the

fossil record then thought to have gone extinct
fossil record then thought to have gone extinct

about 65 million years ago along with the
about 65 million years ago along with the

dinosaurs. And then in 1938 a living CELOCANT
dinosaurs. And then in 1938 a living CELOCANT

was found off the coast of South Africa so
was found off the coast of South Africa so

for the marine world it was the equivalent
for the marine world it was the equivalent

of finding a living TREX.
of finding a living TREX.

GLORIA: Wow!
GLORIA: Wow!

GLORIA: In the Mammal Hall you'll see what
GLORIA: In the Mammal Hall you'll see what

the earliest Mammals looked like and one particularly
the earliest Mammals looked like and one particularly

important species, YOU!
important species, YOU!

NICK: The hall is full of amazing animals
NICK: The hall is full of amazing animals

from around the world in life poses.
from around the world in life poses.

I've always wondered how they are prepared
I've always wondered how they are prepared

for display.
for display.

[music] [pause]
[music] [pause]

NICK: We were just at the hall of mammals.
NICK: We were just at the hall of mammals.

Everything looked incredibly life like, is
Everything looked incredibly life like, is

it all real?
it all real?

PAUL: A part of it is real like the skin
PAUL: A part of it is real like the skin

of the animal is real, and after it's skinned
of the animal is real, and after it's skinned

you treat it with chemicals so it's like leather.
you treat it with chemicals so it's like leather.

But parts that aren't real is after the
But parts that aren't real is after the

skin is
skin is

tanned you have to create some kind of a form
tanned you have to create some kind of a form

for it or a mannequin. This is a commercial
for it or a mannequin. This is a commercial

form for a raccoon that's something that you
form for a raccoon that's something that you

can buy and use for a mount. But other times
can buy and use for a mount. But other times

you make them yourself. This is for a bird.
you make them yourself. This is for a bird.

And this is a homemade one. This is another
And this is a homemade one. This is another

one that I've carved. And that's what's inside
one that I've carved. And that's what's inside

this penguin. And so it goes like that. Other
this penguin. And so it goes like that. Other

parts that are not real are things like these
parts that are not real are things like these

eyes like this is an eye for a wolf. And different
eyes like this is an eye for a wolf. And different

animals have different types of eyes. Compare
animals have different types of eyes. Compare

that to the eyes of the leopard.
that to the eyes of the leopard.

So to answer your question, part of it is
So to answer your question, part of it is

real and part of it's not real.
real and part of it's not real.

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[music] [pause]

NICK: Wow, I'm exhausted!
NICK: Wow, I'm exhausted!

GLORIA: Well I told you it was a big museum!
GLORIA: Well I told you it was a big museum!

NICK: We didn't have enough time to look
NICK: We didn't have enough time to look

at the DINOSAUR HALL, the 4.6 million year
at the DINOSAUR HALL, the 4.6 million year

old METEORITE or even the AFRICAN VOICE MARKET
old METEORITE or even the AFRICAN VOICE MARKET

PLACE where you can see toys children have
PLACE where you can see toys children have

made from recycled materials.
made from recycled materials.

GLORIA: There is plenty for you to see and
GLORIA: There is plenty for you to see and

we're sure you'll enjoy your visit.
we're sure you'll enjoy your visit.

NICK: You're welcome to come back at any
NICK: You're welcome to come back at any

time, and like all Smithsonian Museums entrance
time, and like all Smithsonian Museums entrance

is free.
is free.

GLORIA: Who knows maybe you'll want to
GLORIA: Who knows maybe you'll want to

get a job here some day
get a job here some day

NICK: Or become a volunteer.
NICK: Or become a volunteer.

GLORIA: Please check out the website to
GLORIA: Please check out the website to

discover much more about the Museum.
discover much more about the Museum.

NICK: And you can even become a fan of the
NICK: And you can even become a fan of the

Museum on Facebook!
Museum on Facebook!

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