A lion patrols the dry Nossob riverbed, center of a vast refuge for some big game, at Kaalahari Gemsbok National Park, South Africa, in this 1996 photograph by Chris Johns.

PITTSBURGH — The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is showing the traveling exhibition “50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic,” which showcases some of the magazine's most compelling photographs, from Steve McCurry's Afghan girl to Michael Nichols' iconic image of Jane Goodall, from its more-than-120-year history.

In addition to seeing the photographs as they appeared in the magazine, visitors can learn the stories behind the photos.

The National Geographic Society is a major organizer of large-scale, traveling exhibitions.

Since it launched “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” in 2004, National Geographic has organized two more Egyptian-themed exhibitions, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” and “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.”

National Geographic also offers a broad selection of photography exhibitions to museums.

The Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art, 4400 Forbes Ave., are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Admission is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for senior citizens, and $11.95 for children 3 to 18. Visit www.carnegiemnh.org for more information.