Rolex Sets Up Base Camp in Washington, D.C.

Out of Rolex and National Geographic Society's 70-year partnership is the latest renovated Base Camp

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Published: 14 October 2026

The exterior of the Museum of Exploration at the National Geographic Society’s Base Camp, their newly renovated headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Museum of Exploration is a public destination more than 100,000-square-foot in size, designed to amplify the Society’s work for a global audience.
*Rolex/Arnaud Montagard*

For 70 years, Rolex has actively supported the Society and now serves as a Founding Donor of its reimagined headquarters in the American capital, Washington, D.C. Called Base Camp, the site reflects Rolex and National Geographic Society’s shared commitment to exploration and discovery.

The National Geographic Base Camp has undergone a major renovation and is now open to the public. At its core, Base Camp provides a space for National Geographic Explorers to share their experiences and engage with wider audiences, with enhanced resources to support exploration and showcase the wonders of the world.

A replica of National Geographic Explorer at Large Sylvia Earle’s JIM suit at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C. This artefact is one of many on display in Rolex Explorers Landing, which celebrates the stories, passion, and impact of National Geographic Explorers.
*Elman Studio/National Geographic Society*

One of the new attractions at Base Camp is the Museum of Exploration, where it highlights the expeditions and work of National Geographic Explorers globally. The public is invited to experience immersive, interactive and educational exhibits like never before. There's also the Rolex Explorers Landing, an area that's divided into four areas—Spark, Trek, Purpose and Impact—that traces the exploration, from the initial idea to the impact their expeditions have on the world.

Visitors get to witness National Geographic Explorers and their landmark expeditions, like Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle's pressurised diving suit that she donned when she accomplished the deepest untethered sea walk in 1979. An exhibit called the Perpetual Planet Expeditions Reader Rail, will display the current Rolex and National Geographic supported expeditions in almost real time. In a bid to document the impact of climate change, visitors are privy to updates from the field.

This is an expansion that is another hallmark of Rolex and National Geographic's long collaboration. It is a reminder that, despite how much we have learned about our planet, there is still much to discover.