Cristian Samper, Director of the National Museum of Natural History gives a tour of the new Sant Ocean Hall to the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, and his wife Susan. Sant Ocean Hall was created by the Smithsonian, in partnership with NOAA.

Yesterday, DCist got the chance to preview the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History’s new Sant Ocean Hall, which opens to the public this Saturday. Our photographer, Meaghan Gay, said “It really is a very cool space. I am kind of a museum freak, and this blows away the Natural History museum in NY, or the one in Vienna for that matter. This is a totally interactive space, with video touch screens all around.” The musuem is making a huge effort at interactivity — you can follow them on their web site, on Flickr, on Facebook, on YouTube and even on Twitter.

The intention of this space is to showcase the current understanding we have of the ocean — which covers 71 percent of the planet’s surface yet is still largely unknown and unexplored. This represents the largest renovation to the museum since its opening in 1910. It’s a truly interactive experience, featuring 674 specimens and models, high definition video screens, one-of-a-kind exhibits and some other cool new technology. Victoria and Roger Sant donated $15 million to endow the new hall, choosing the Smithsonian because of its already incredibly comprehensive collection of specimens (over 80 million!). Take a look at the shots Meaghan took, and don’t forget to pay attention to the captions to get a real feel for what she saw there.

Filed Under: museums, natural history museum, ocean exhibit, oceanography, photography, sant ocean hall, smithsonian, smithsonian museum of natural history,