This Week at Natural History: Walk with Dinosaurs 🦖

Image credit: BBC/PBS/ZDF/France Télévisions

Walk with Dinosaurs at NMNH

Travel back in time with an exclusive screening of PBS’ all-new Walking With Dinosaurs series, where stunning visuals and cutting-edge science resurrect the giants of prehistory like never before. Then, stick around for a dynamic discussion with producers and paleontologists to learn how these ancient creatures lived, hunted, fought and died.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 6:45 - 8:45 p.m. ET
Baird Auditorium, Ground Floor

Doors open at 6 p.m. — come early and meet a dinosaur! Free registration is encouraged.

Image credit: Smithsonian Institution

The Curious Case of the Capitalsaurus, D.C.’s Official Dino

Discovered beneath the streets of the nation’s capital in 1898, an unusual fossil sparked a dinosaur mystery that continues to baffle paleontologists to this day. Known only from a single vertebra bone, the species was named “Capitalsaurus,” and designated as D.C.’s official dinosaur.  Click the link below to learn more about this prehistoric puzzle from NMNH paleobiologist Matt Carrano.

Image credit: National Museum of Natural History

The History of the World in Seven Snails

In celebration of National Snail Day, NMNH postdoctoral fellow Melissa Betters explores the fascinating journey of life on our planet — one snail at a time. From ancient artifacts to deep-sea survival skills, discover how these humble mollusks have shaped our world in unexpected ways. Click the link below to learn more!

Image credit: Teodor Drobota

Here is our latest programming guide. Click here for a full schedule of upcoming public programs and a link to previously scheduled video webinars.

For Everyone

World Ocean Day
Visit the Sant Ocean Hall for a day of events for kids and adults, including story time with author Susan Stockdale, interactive experiences, penguin puppets, conversations with ocean scientists, and more!
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Sant Ocean Hall, 1st Floor

For Adults

Archaeology and Indigenous Knowledge along a Bountiful Subarctic Coast
The Ernest "Tiger" Burch Memorial Lecture Series, 2025
Aron L. Crowell explores how Sugpiaq and Tlingit communities have adapted to Gulf of Alaska environments for 10,000 years, blending archaeology, oral traditions, and science.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET
This program will be presented as a Zoom video webinar. A link is provided on the program webpage.

Natural History on the Big Screen: Walking With Dinosaurs
Join us for an exclusive screening of the PBS series' first episode and a discussion with producers and paleontologists. Doors open at 6 p.m. — come early and meet a dinosaur! Free registration is encouraged.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 6:45 - 8:45 p.m. ET
In person location: Baird Auditorium, Ground Floor

Image credit: Elic Weitzel

How White-Tailed Deer Disappeared — and Came Back Stronger Than Ever

White-tailed deer are everywhere today, jumping suburban fences and eating their fill from backyard gardens. But just over a century ago, they were nearly extinct. Click the link below to learn how NMNH postdoctoral Elic Weitzel pieced together the story of how this iconic species vanished from the landscape, and the surprising story of its comeback.

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