Scavenger Hunts at The National Museum of Natural History

From whales to insects, from mummies to diamonds…

The wonders never cease on this whirlwind tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. You’ll follow a trail of clues and answer tricky, humorous questions about what you find as you travel to China, Africa, South America, the Ice Age, ancient oceans, and beyond. Plus you’ll get a great heaping helping of the new eye-popping jaw-dropping dinosaurs exhibit, aka the Hall of Fossils! 

A museum scavenger hunt full of surprises

On this slightly surreal adventure, you might discover…

• A tell-tale bone that links a T. rex with your chicken dinner
• The least secure hiding place for the famous Hope Diamond
• What town you should probably avoid during a meteor shower
• A neanderthal’s distinctive “humidifier”

And those are just a few of the secrets on this eclectic hunt. You don’t need any previous knowledge to triumph—you just need good teamwork and comfortable shoes!

We also offer an International Edition for groups with ESL participants. And the Kids Edition of this hunt has been recommended by Budget Travel and GoCityKids.com. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

Here are just five of the 5-star reviews on Google:

“Truly amazing team fun activity. Unleashed our competitive spirit and great bonding experience with my colleagues. Our host was so enthusiastic and funny, we enjoyed her energy!”

“Utilized Watson Adventures for a team-building event for our department. Sharlette was such an enthusiastic host with a vibrant personality. She definitely contributed to the fun and awesome experience. I received many thanks from the staff, it was a big hit!”

“It was a wonderful experience! I definitely recommend [the Museum of Natural History scavenger hunt] for team building.”

“We went for a work event and had a great time! Would definitely recommend.”

“We took a group of young men, between the ages of 12 and 16. Not only did they enjoy it, but the [older] men that were there to accompany them enjoyed it as well. Goes without saying, but the [hunt host] was amazing. Thanks!”

Contact us to learn more about our Smithsonian Museum of Natural History scavenger hunts—and find more fun in Washington, D.C.!

Change of plans: you’re hunting for a murderer

This isn’t your ordinary scavenger hunt. A Watson Adventures staffer has been murdered, and we need your help to catch his killer. The victim created a scavenger hunt at the museum, and the police need you to do the hunt and look for clues—and uncover the secrets of his dangerous double life. There’s more at stake than just bringing the killer to justice: your teamwork could prevent an international incident with catastrophic consequences. (No pressure or anything.)

While solving the crime, you’ll get a whirlwind tour of the National Museum of Natural History. You’ll gather evidence and answer tricky questions as you trek past colossal dinosaurs, mysterious creature of the deep, your evolutionary ancestors in Africa, mummies from ancient Egypt, gems and jewels, even cockroaches under your sink.

So, whodunit? Was it the lion? The vampire bat? The mummies? A homicidal Homo sapien? Anything could be a clue, and everyone and everything is a suspect.

What (surviving) clients are saying about the murder mystery game

A 5-star review on Google: “What a fun group activity! Our team had a blast, and our hosts were fantastic. Would definitely do it again!”

Another 5-star review on Google: “Our team building day was a HUGE success!!! The hunt was so much more than what we were expecting. Our host, Sharlette, was absolutely AMAZING! She helped make our experience so memorable. We are looking forward to another adventure with this company. Highly recommend!”

“What a fun group activity! Our team had a blast, and our [Watson Adventures] hosts were fantastic. Would definitely do it again!” —post-game feedback from VP of a wellness company

Contact us to learn more about the Murder at the Museum of Natural History Scavenger Hunt—and find more fun in Washington, DC!