Exploring Australia - Beauty Rich and Rare

Winter is a great time to explore some of the best art galleries and exhibitions in the city, so for our next exploration, we have selected to follow Captain James Cook’s 1768 voyage to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia through an immersive sound and light display featuring original illustrations.

Barossa Valley Australia

We will explore the Beauty, Rich and Rare exhibition at The National Museum of Natural History and then head out to a nearby pub for some food, drinks and conversations on arts and travel.

Exploring Australia - Beauty Rich and Rare

Beauty Rich and Rare, is a new exhibit at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, which aims to showcase the natural beauty of the Australian continent prior to the arrival of European explorers.

The exhibition follows Captain James Cook’s 1768 voyage to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia through an immersive sound and light display featuring original illustrations, charts, and Sir Joseph Banks’ journals. Sir Joseph Banks was an English naturalist onboard the ship to record Australia's flora and fauna in meticulous detail.

James Cook's Third Voyage - Views of the South Seas

Thing to Explore at the Museum

• Watch historic illustrations come to life through the use of modern digital techniques.
• Learn how South Pacific peoples navigated the vast Pacific Ocean by following the stars.
• Compare the herbarium sheets (dried botanical collections) with the illustrations that were created during the expedition.

Meeting Point

There are two entrances at the Museum — Constitution Avenue (north side) and the National Mall (south side).

We will meet at the Entrance from National Mall at 11:30am. Those arriving later can catch the group at the exhibition.

Post-Exhibition Food & Drinks

After exploring the different art exhibits on display we will head out to a nearby pub for some food, drinks and conversations on arts and travel.

Event Details

Event: Exploring Australia - Beauty Rich and Rare

Description: Exploring the natural beauty of the Australian continent prior to the arrival of European explorers.

Date/Time: Saturday February 15, 2020 11:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Admission: Free / Grapes & Grains members must RSVP

Venue: The National Museum of Natural History (Meeting point: At the Entrance from National Mall.)

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, Washington, DC 20560

Google Map The National Museum of Natural History

Article Category: Events