Q&A: The National Geographic Museum is an in-person experience that will wow you.
National Geographic Society CEO Jill Tiefenthaler looks ahead as the organization’s next evolution — The Museum of Exploration — opens its doors this summer.
On June 26, the National Geographic Society will open the Museum of Exploration (MOE), the most significant expansion of its campus in history. A “treasure trove” of archives — maps, artifacts and footage that would stack to the height of Mount Everest — combined with immersive technology, it is the Society’s latest chapter of its 138-year storytelling legacy. CEO Jill Tiefenthaler views it as the global nonprofit’s next evolution, a space designed to inspire awe and action.
On June 26, the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration (MOE) will open to the public, the most significant expansion of the National Geographic Society’s public space in our history. What is the goal of the MOE?
The Museum of Exploration is an invitation to step into our mission and, at the heart of our mission are National Geographic Explorers. They are the amazing scientists, conservationists, educators and storytellers who are dedicated to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world.
The Museum immerses you in over 100,000 square feet of exploration in a state-of-the-art, uniquely National Geographic space. Inside, you can learn about how Explorers are decoding the language of sperm whales, uncovering dinosaur species that reshape our understanding of ancient history, protecting fragile wildlife and ecosystems and so much more.
What makes the MOE different is that you experience exploration through their eyes. It’s an immersive “Home of Exploration” where you’ll see the tools Explorers use in the field: the camera equipment they haul over extreme landscapes, the telescopes pointed at the night sky, the gear worn to the world’s highest peaks and the expedition vehicles still caked with dirt.
By stepping into their worlds, we hope you leave with your own spark of curiosity. We want every visitor to walk out of the doors feeling the wonder and possibility about their own journey of exploration and discovery. Because at National Geographic, we believe there is an Explorer in everyone.
Why is a museum the next step forward for this iconic organization?
Over the last few years, I’ve had many people ask me some version of “Why a museum?” and “Why now?” I always tell them that the MOE is the next step in a legacy of storytelling innovation — a legacy that stretches back to our founding in 1888.
From our earliest days, the National Geographic Society has supported Explorers and amplified their work to the world. What I love about National Geographic is that we’ve never been defined by one medium. We’ve always evolved to meet people where they are.
That is the power of the MOE: it doesn’t just show you our Explorers’ work; it invites you to see yourself as part of the solution.
In the beginning, crowds lined up outside our Washington, D.C. headquarters to get a seat at a lecture about the latest expedition. National Geographic magazine carried these discoveries into homes around the world. Later, we produced primetime TV specials and launched our own global channels. As we entered the digital age, we streamed into classrooms and onto smartphones, building one of the largest social media communities on Earth.
The MOE is the next chapter in that evolution.
We’re combining our rich storytelling legacy with today’s technology to create a space that invites you into our Explorers’ journeys in new ways. You can find your favorite magazine cover on our digital magazine wall and revisit iconic National Geographic moments throughout our history. In a time where everything competes for our attention, there’s no substitute for in-person experiences that truly wow you.
How do you want visitors of all ages to feel when they visit the MOE and step into the world of our Explorers? What do you hope they take with them?
If I had to sum it up in one word: awe.
I’m an economist by training, so I’ve always believed in the power of data. But at the Society, I’ve come to realize that it’s awe that moves people to care, and act.
One of the most mesmerizing examples of this at the MOE is the “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth” exhibition, featuring the Explorer Joel Sartore’s extraordinary portraits of wildlife. When you step inside, you are immersed in large-scale projections of these incredible photos. It is a rare chance to look directly into the eyes of a tiger, a tiny tarsier or a colorful tree frog, some of the thousands of species Joel has photographed to ensure we see them before it’s too late.
I challenge anyone to walk through that exhibit and not feel a sense of awe and a genuine pull to help. That is the power of the MOE: it doesn’t just show you our Explorers’ work; it invites you to see yourself as part of the solution.
What is one part of the MOE that you’re especially excited for people to get to experience?
I love everything about the MOE, of course, but I’m especially excited for people to experience “The Archives” exhibition because it dives into National Geographic’s history in ways they’ve never seen before.
When I first joined the Society, the only way to get just a glimpse of our Special Collections was on a special tour. But the truth is, they are a treasure trove! Our archives include maps, notes, artifacts, images and footage from over a century of expeditions, which collectively create an extraordinary record of our world. To give you a sense of scale, if you stacked those items end to end, you would reach the summit of Mount Everest. Isn’t that incredible?
Our new exhibition, funded by a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., gives our legacy the space it deserves. We’ve dedicated a significant portion of our historic 16th Street building to showcasing the depth and breadth of our archival history.
It’s also a celebration of the techniques that have defined National Geographic and our storytelling throughout our history: meticulous cartography, stunning photography and impactful filmmaking. “The Archives” invites you into the process behind these works. Through engaging interactives, you can see how a magazine story grows from an idea into a published spread, or try your hand as a National Geographic photo editor.
We often say that science and education are our foundation, but storytelling is our superpower. “The Archives” exhibition shows just how true that is — highlighting how National Geographic storytelling has shaped the world for over a century. I’m thrilled for the world to explore that legacy.
From initial brainstorms and blueprints to years of construction, exhibition curation and more, so much effort, creativity and dedication has gone into bringing the MOE to life. Which part of this effort are you most proud of?
I am so proud of how our entire community — staff, trustees, donors, supporters and partners — came together to turn this audacious idea into reality.
The scale of this effort is almost hard to wrap your head around. We have quadrupled our public space to over 100,000 square feet. It took 827,000 hours of construction and the meticulous curation of 650 Explorer artifacts to get every detail just right. But those numbers are only half the story.
What really moves me is the collective passion behind those figures. Our trustees supported and guided us as we took big risks. Our staff brought excellence and a deep sense of pride to the work, ensuring every detail was precisely executed. Our Explorers contributed their ideas, expertise and meaningful objects — from their lives, expeditions and assignments — so people can see and experience their work up close. Our supporters and partners invested in our vision to share our mission with millions more here in D.C. and around the world.
The MOE is a testament to how deeply our community believes in our mission and sharing it with the world. When you step inside, you’ll feel the collective passion that thousands of people poured into this project.
To everyone who helped make the MOE a reality: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And to everyone who is going to walk through our doors, I cannot wait for you to experience it.
