National Children's Museum

09/01/2026

So much is happening this September, where do we even begin? 🤩

🦕 travel back in time as Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice™ opens september 26 in our Visiting Exhibit Hall
🌎 celebrate Worldwide Day of Play on september 26 with fun for the whole family: a storytime + book launch with former NASA astronaut Astronaut Karen Nyberg, a live show and meet-and-greet with Danny Joe's Treehouse, and hands-on STEAM-powered activities!
🇪🇸 explore Spanish culture and the iconic architecture of Antoni Gaudí at a partner pop-up with our friends from the Embassy of Spain (Embassy of Spain in the United States) on september 27
⚙️ tinker and twist with Automata in the Tinkering Corner, and discover leaf gelli printing with Tinkerer-in-Residence Noctiluna
✨ members: member magic hour on september 5, fairytale storytime on september 18, cyanotype printing on september 20, and an exclusive first look at Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice™ on september 26

Visit the link in our bio to plan your visit today!

08/29/2026

Another round of takes from our Dream Team, hot out of the oven! 🥖♨️

08/28/2026

Chitra Sharma is the Museum's first-ever Tinkerer-in-Residence, and she's been leading us in creative and inspiring workshops showcasing the art of printmaking! We chatted with Chitra to learn a little bit more about her, her process, and what she's looking forward to with the rest of her residency!

Visit our website to learn about upcoming Tinkerer-in-Residence workshops and plan your visit today! Tinkerer-in-Residence workshops are included in general Museum admission. https://bit.ly/4gz51xf

08/27/2026

September is coming, which means we can't FALL behind on our cleaning and maintenance! 🍂🛠️ The Museum will be closed September 8-11 for our annual Fall Refresh as we prep for another exciting year of play, discovery, and adventures.

08/26/2026

Get creative with color, light, and culture at the papel picado station in Placita Mágica!

💡💠🟡🟩

¡Ven a ser creativa con el color, la luz y la cultura en la estación de papel picado de Placita Mágica!

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Are you a DC-area artist ready to create, inspire, and engage young learners? Our 2026 Artist Residency Program is now accepting applications! This paid, year-long opportunity begins in September 2026 and includes:

🎨 leading on-site and community art-STEM workshops
🏛️ creating an original installation for the Museum
📚 collaborating with DC educators
🌟 and so much more!

Applications are open now through August 28, 2026. Learn more and apply at our link in bio.

08/12/2026

New notebooks.📓 Freshly sharpened pencils.✏️ The energy of back-to-school season is in the air!

Even with all of the excitement, we realize the start of a new school year can be daunting. That's why, during select times on August 21 - 23, we'll be hosting hands-on pop-up activities that can help ease your soon-to-be students back into the classroom.

Little learners can:
🧥 hone their motor skills with a "getting ready relay" using school-day prep actions
🌬️ learn to regulate their breathing with a custom-made pinwheel
📚 enjoy a back-to-school-themed storytime while gaining exposure to reading fundamentals
📐 strengthen spatial reasoning and shape recognition with geometric challenges
🔬 explore patterns and textures through microscopic investigation

Back-to-School pop-ups are included in Museum admission. Learn more about the activities and pop-up schedule on our website: https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/explore/events/back-to-school-weekend?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=owned_marketing&utm_campaign=back_to_school&utm_id=back_to_school_facebook

08/11/2026

We're thrilled to share we welcomed our ONE🎉MILLIONTH🎉VISITOR to our downtown home!

Lucas and his family received a free Dream Makers membership to keep their fun learning adventures going all year long. Congratulations, Lucas, and thank you to our entire community for dreaming with us every day. Your support has gotten us to this point. 🌈✨

08/07/2026

Next up in our early learner series: Tinker Tots! 🔧

Every Thursday at 2:30 pm in our Little Dreamers exhibit, little tinkerers explore through hands-on play that builds fine motors skills, nurtures problem-solving, and practices language skills. Test how different objects roll or slide down ramps, build structures with blocks, and discover something new every week!

Tinker Tots and all early learner programs are included with general Museum admission. Visit our website to learn more and plan your visit.