When the Museum of Natural History is closed for renovations, the museum pieces are moved into federal storage at the famous Smithsonian Institution. It houses the world's largest museum complex with more than 136 million items in its collections. These range from the plane Amelia Earhart flew on her non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic and Al Capone's rap sheet and mug shot to Dorothy's ruby slippers. From Fonzie's leather jacket to Archie Bunker's lounge chair. After stealing a security guard's ID badge, Larry Daley slips into the Archives of the Smithsonian, where Kahmunrah, an evil Pharaoh, comes to life with the reestablishing of The Tablet as a magical force in the museum. It brings the old exhibits and new exhibits to life, and in conflict with each other. Larry enlists the help of Amelia Earhart.