Small Mammal House

The Small Mammal House at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is one of those exhibits that surprises families who discover it — a dim, atmospheric indoor building designed to let visitors observe nocturnal small mammals during their active hours, using reverse-lighting to simulate nighttime conditions during the day.

The experience is distinctive. You walk in from the bright DC daylight into a darker, quieter space, and over a few minutes your eyes adjust to reveal a world of activity that most zoo visitors never see: naked mole rats tunneling through glass-sided burrow systems, slender lorises moving deliberately through branches, kinkajous, porcupines, and dozens of other small mammals going about their natural nighttime behaviors at 10AM.

For kids, the naked mole rat colony is inevitably the hit. These hairless, underground-dwelling rodents with their visible tooth structures and endless tunneling create the kind of 'I don't know whether I think that's cool or gross' reaction that children absolutely love. Extended family negotiation about whether naked mole rats are 'cute' or 'disgusting' is a common outcome of this exhibit.

Practically, the Small Mammal House's indoor nature makes it one of the National Zoo's most weather-flexible exhibits. On hot summer days, rainy visits, or cold winter days, the exhibit remains comfortable and the animals remain active. It's a reliable stop regardless of conditions.

As with all Smithsonian National Zoo exhibits, admission is free — part of the zoo's free access policy as a Smithsonian institution. The zoo itself is 163 acres; the Small Mammal House is best visited as part of a full zoo day.