National Museum of National History to Open Hall of Human Origins

Teasing out the inextricable link between humanity and the natural world is a different approach, Potts said. Another theme is that the shared origins have a deeper and longer history than the differences and diversity the public discusses today.

Many of the presentations will be in cave-shaped enclosures and circular settings.

"This is about the sweep of 6 million years in time," said Michael Atwood Mason, the chief of exhibit development, explaining the many curves in the hall.

"One of the challenges is, we do get 7.5 million visitors a year. Our concern is to give people a variety of experiences. So we have them moving off the main track and dipping into other areas," Mason said.

On one end the visit will start with a time tunnel, showing faces on an eight-foot-high projection and environments from several millenniums that appear and disappear through the ages. Visitors can also start from another entrance, where a film will echo similar themes. "We want the deconstruction of the story told as well as the construction of the story," said Potts.

Visitors will be able to chose from eight reconstructed faces of early human species and select whom they might want to be. Nearby will be cases with bronze busts of these species, designed by artist John Gurche, standing at whatever height scientists have determined.

The Smithsonian team worked with colleagues from 50 U.S. and international organizations and enlisted the expertise of 70 scientists and educators for the outreach programs.

Since 2000, the museum has renovated three major halls without closing. The Hall of Mammals and the Ocean Hall are larger than the Human Origins space. The Ocean Hall opened in September 2008, cost $49 million and covers 23,000 square feet. Through September, the Natural History museum has had 6 million visitors this year, making it the most popular facility on the Mall.