WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — It’s official! A new museum is coming to the heart of Washington, D.C. with a new adventure for explorers.
The National Geographic Society announced the National Geographic Museum of Exploration is set to open in the nation’s capitol in mid-2026.
National Geographic said the new groundbreaking attraction will invite visitors to go on thrilling expeditions while immersing themselves in the excitement of exploration and discovery.
According to the society, the goal of the museum is to “illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.” Officials said the opening of the Museum of Exploration is a pivotal step forward in the goal to share remarkable stories with the public from National Geographic explorers, scientists and more.
The museum will include an Education Center, a 400-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a “walking dark ride” that will transport explorers onto expeditions to experience fieldwork in remote locations around the world and more.
In a peek inside the new attraction, National Geographic released renderings, showing explorers a visual of what the new Museum of Exploration is going to look like. In the video, the museum has a magazine gallery, photo gallery, learning launchpad and several exhibits.
(Photo Courtesy: Visualizations by REDVERTEX, based on designs by Hickok Cole, Inc.)
“This experience is set to become a staple of the Washington, D.C. community — particularly within the Golden Triangle neighborhood — and it’s important we build upon our legacy as a historic institution in this city,” said Emily Dunham, chief campus and experiences officer at the National Geographic Society.
Officials said the museum will have cutting-edge technology that reveals wildlife, immersive exhibits, landscapes, communities, and cultures that make up the world.
“The Museum of Exploration marks a historic chapter in the Society’s mission to advance exploration, science, education and storytelling, bringing these experiences to life in ways that spark curiosity, create lasting memories and invite everyone to embrace their inner Explorer,” said Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO of the National Geographic Society. “We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience our mission through immersive, unforgettable moments that deepen their connection to the wonder of our world.”
