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The best-known hallmark of the museum, the collection of dinosaur fossils is the world’s largest. The giant Barosaurus in the rotunda is the highest free-standing exhibit.

Dramatic dioramas of life-size animals are divided by continents and shown in accurate natural habitats. The wildlife ranges from colossal African elephants to endangered Asian species such as lions and leopards.

The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life explores the waters of the earth and their inhabitants in skillful dioramas of ocean life. The hall is presided over by a 94-ft (29-m) life-size model of a blue whale.

Opened in 1998 to encourage conservation, the hall contains a rainforest with accurate sounds, plants, and inhabitants. The 100-ft (30-m) long Spectrum of Life wall displays 1,500 specimens from bacteria to mammals, as well as a giant squid overhead.

Exquisite artifacts, artwork, costumes, and dioramas of daily life show the different religions and lifestyles of Chinese, Korean, Indian, and other Asian cultures.

These depictions of tribes living in various environments reflect 100 years of research. The displays include dwellings, clothing, masks, textiles, weapons, and tools.

Wonders include the 563-carat Star of India, a 596-lb (270-kg) topaz crystal from Brazil, and the Cape York meteorite, 4.5 billion years old and weighing 34 tons.

This area features Native American totem poles showing the woodworking skills of tribes living from Washington state to southern Alaska. Also on show is a 63-ft (19-m) Haida canoe built in 1878.

This display of human origins and physical characteristics includes reconstructed heads of early hominids that bring you face to face with your predecessors.

The museum has the world’s largest collection of birds – more than a million specimens. The collection is organized geographically, with separate halls displaying dioramas of oceanic, North American, and other birds of the world.