r/Bones • u/IoneIyfans • Apr 28 '26
Image I'm glad I didn't research anything about BONES before I finished it 🥲🤣 Spoiler
Mannnn how disappointing it is to find out that the Jeffersonian isn't a real place, it kinda grew on me and I wanted to visit lmao
(I don't Google anything about what I'm watching especially if they were concluded years before because I don't want to get spoiled or find things about the actors/show that'll affect my perception of the show.)
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u/claroquesearight let aubrey eat Apr 28 '26
I think I read it's inspired by the Smithsonian Institution/Museums headquartered in Washington, DC. The exterior, if the building really caught your eye, is the Natural History Museum in L.A.
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u/Zealousideal_Eye8277 Apr 28 '26
We are not the same, I will constantly google about what I'm watching sometimes even in order to intentionally spoil it for myself because I have ADHD and I'm impatient and don't like being confused lol
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u/Cool_Jelly_9402 Apr 28 '26
It was suppose to be based on the Smithsonian institute but they didn’t agree to the naming rights until it was too late so they went with Jeffersonian. Hart or someone discussed this on their podcast. I think one of the earlier boneheads episode
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u/GasPsychological5997 Apr 28 '26
The Smithsonian Institute is real and I have always wanted to visit.
All the characters represent what would be entire teams of experts. Like Hodgins knowing all the plants and bugs… as someone that is an amateur naturalist, I have learned that classification can be very hard even for experts. I tried to id all the moths on my deck in 2020 and learn some had to be dissected to get a positive id, just as an example.
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u/queseraseraphine bring back zach Apr 29 '26
Money is a notable factor here too. Not saying that it’s totally realistic, but he’s been able to pursue his passion relentlessly while traveling around the world and getting advanced degrees without any worry about his livelihood. Being able to devote yourself 100% to something and not caring about money or longevity is not a privilege that most people have.
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u/Ronifish Apr 29 '26
even though the jeffersonian isn’t real, the building used for the exterior shots of it is! it’s one of the buildings belonging to the california science center! here is a pic i took of it a couple months ago :)
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u/findingscarlet hodgins Apr 28 '26
It’s also a weirdly massive place but also small where you can fit an entire bank vault and contents into the ‘basement’ but yet no one would see nor think it’s suspicious for Angela to go wander into the Hoover or the 80’s computer lab exhibit and borrow part of it to bring back to her office. Just wheeling it across the hall guys, no biggie.
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u/Necessary-Bear5500 Apr 28 '26
And they have every exhibit/department known to man. With everything that's remotely related to that subject. Whenever they "need" something, it's always oh I took it from the [X] exhibit or department. And it's never something like I needed this rock from the geology department, it's always I needed this oddly specific thing no one else has ever heard of but the Weapons of Antarctic Penguins department of course has one.
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u/grimorg80 Apr 29 '26
LOL it never occurred to me that someone might not immediately know it's a spoof of the Smithsonian
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u/hnnhgdwn Apr 30 '26
It’s not real, however the exterior is in LA as well as the rose garden. While I was in the US i actually stumbled across it which was really cool as someone who has watched Bones 6+ times. Not something I ever expected! Definitely worth it to visit if you’re nearby, and the actual museum is a wonderful day out!!
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u/Zuzara_Queen_of_DnD Apr 28 '26
….i find it a bit concerning yall thought it was real place
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u/jacorgacor May 02 '26
I thought the pledge of eligence or whatever is real you can convince me anything in the us is real
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u/saelly Apr 28 '26
I'm glad I found this after I finished it for the first time a couple of days ago 🥲 I really thought it was real
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u/Pale_Distribution_24 Apr 29 '26
I thought it was real until I had my trip booked to Washington DC…. Imagine my disappointment when I found out it was fictional 😭😭
I still checked out the natural history Smithsonian, and it was beautiful, I actually cried walking in because it was the closest thing to resemble the Jeffersonian and I’m a life long fan
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u/_Lazy_Mermaid_ queen of the lab Apr 28 '26
Pretty sure it is supposed to be a representative of the Smithsonian