Delve into a world of natural history from the comfort of your living room. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s collection of specimen and artefacts is astounding.
Be inspired on a virtual tour where you can discover the David K. Hoch Hall of Fossils, nature photography exhibits, and the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals. There’s always something new and exciting to discover at the Smithsonian – hours can be spent learning about natural history and acquiring knowledge in this uniquely effortless and entertaining way.
The Smithsonian museum holds a concise record of human interaction over time – all eagerly waiting, ready to be absorbed. View current exhibitions and enjoy access to past exhibits and research areas. If you have a VR headset lying around, select this tour and simply turn your head as if you are in the museum itself.
To begin exploring the Smithsonian, follow this link https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour. Click on an exhibit and move the mouse around the room to view. You can navigate to adjoining rooms by clicking the blue arrow links on the floor, and switch between floors and exhibits by accessing the floor map of the museum in the top right corner of the screen. If you’re interested in an object or exhibit panel, view a close-up image by clicking on the camera icon.
The Smithsonian is not the only cultural institution to offer online access to their collection. Zoos are live-streaming their animal enclosures, art galleries have opened their virtual doors, and orchestras, theatres, and dance companies are sharing their performances online with the world. Here are some links to get you started.
The Louvre: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
British Museum: https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/
Sistine Chapel: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina/tour-virtuale.html
Great Wall of China: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
Yellowstone Park: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Broadway HD: https://www.broadwayhd.com/
Theatre: https://www.digitaltheatre.com
Photo by Quinn Villarreal on Unsplash
