National Geographic Museum of Exploration

The all new National Geographic Museum of Exploration, known as the “MOE”, opened June 26th, 2026 after a four-year upgrade from their older, smaller museum. The MOE now features 100,000 square feet of exhibits, photographs and artifacts from National Geographic’s fieldwork.

Being a private museum, unlike the federally funded Smithsonian museums, there is an entry fee of $29.99 per adult – but it’s worth it.

In Focus Photography Gallery (38.905193, -77.037363)

Starting in the southeast corner, the first exhibit you come to is the “In Focus” photography gallery, celebrating some of the most memorable photographs from National Geographic over the years. Many of these images you will likely recognize from gracing the covers of the magazine dating back to 1905 when the print editions started adding photographs.

Explorer Sandesh Kadur’s customized Suzuki (38.905193, -77.037363)

Explorer II high altitude balloon (38.905193, -77.037363)

The museum displays not just the photographs that made the magazine famous, but explains impeccably the story of how those images were captured. One such exhibit is Explorer Sandesh Kadur’s modified Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, that he used for nearly 20 years. Sandesh used the vehicle to explore India and capture animals such as tigers, rhinos and king cobras.

Adjacent to the Suzuki is a replica of the 1935 pressurized gondola use by the U.S. Army Air Corp and the National Geographic Society to explore the upper atmosphere and test human physiology and pressurized systems.

Entrance to the National Geographic Museum of Exploration (38.905193, -77.037363)

National Geographic Museum of Exploration (38.905193, -77.037363)

In addition to the vast exhibits and interactive displays, the museum offers the Explorers Eatery and Ballard Bar food and cocktail options. The food hall has offerings from Peruvian, Vietnamese, Moroccan, Italian and America cuisines. The Ballard Bar makes alcoholic cocktails and beers as well as coffee from the barista bar.

In a area where there are a lot of top-rated museums, it is difficult to be high on the list but the National Geographic Museum of Exploration does just that. It is beautiful, expansive and not just captures but narrates the story of exploration throughout history. If you are visiting D.C., be sure to put this museum on the top of your to-visit list.