Your Family’s Next Adventure Awaits at National Children’s Museum

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This article is written in partnership with National Children's Museum. We hope you enjoy your visit!

Moments of delight are found around every corner at the reimagined National Children’s Museum in downtown DC! Designed for the whole family, children and parents alike will enjoy playful and modern exhibits that explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) concepts. Prompts for family and caregiver interaction and extended learning opportunities can be found throughout the Museum to guide your adventure (think: educational questions and career pathways introductions). Keep an eye on our calendar for themed programming and family workshops led by engaging Museum Educators.

National Children's Museum Washington, DCExhibits at a Glance

Upon entering the Museum, guests catch a glimpse of the Dream Machine, a dazzling, three-story climbing and slide structure. Visitors five and older (yes, grown-ups included!) can test their strength and agility by climbing high into the cloud-inspired centerpiece through colorful pods and large netting pathways to zip down the thrilling slide. Meanwhile, little ones enjoy their own mini cloud slide.

National Children’s Museum

The Museum’s Visiting Exhibit Hall showcases some of the world’s most innovative and engaging traveling exhibits designed specifically for children. New exhibits rotate through the space regularly, ensuring new and exciting adventures await both first-timers and regulars. Currently, Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! is on display through May 15, 2022. In the exhibit, children help Thomas and his friends solve a variety of challenges, from a simple sorting and shape identification activity to more complex engineering obstacles. Climb into Thomas’ cabin, fix Percy’s wobbly wheels, and explore the island of Sodor at the extensive train table. As children confront new challenges and test their abilities, Thomas, Percy, Victor, and others are there to offer encouragement and remind children how “Really Useful” we all are! 

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Engineering Games + Play is a sports-themed space that dives into material science and physics concepts. Hit a virtual home run and discover what happens when using playful alternatives to the traditional baseball and bat in the Grand Slam Science experience. Don’t miss the photo finish at the On the Go-Go racetrack, where guests can design and build their own racecars. Other experiences include Bernoulli’s Hoops, where visitors can shoot hoops using nothing but air flow, and a toddler climber.

Pro tip: Make sure to check out the DC-themed mural in this exhibit, which captures the essence of the city the Museum calls home (and also makes for the perfect photo opportunity)!

Other exhibits include Data Science Alley, where data and statistics come to life with pom poms and wind-powered tubes; Art + Tech, three mini worlds with iconic friends and activities from Nickelodeon, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, and Slime. Innovation Sandbox, an immersive green-screen weather experience and climate-focused floor quiz. The Tinkerers Studio, an innovative learning lab and classroom space for programming and field trips. There are also two toddler-specific spaces, Little Dreamers and Little Movers, that offer a safe, enclosed area for your littlest ones to explore.

Delightful Programming

The Museum currently has two recurring programs for children under 5 that take place in the Little Dreamers toddler space. Read, sing, and play along at STEAM Story Time every Thursday at 10:30 am. Grab an instrument and join the band at Baby Jam every Friday at 10:30 am.

On any given day, pop up programs will—true to their name—pop up throughout the Museum. Stumble upon an unexpected activity, ranging from DIY builds to science demonstrations, that will prompt further STEAM exploration.

Special programming and member events also occur throughout the year and are announced on the Museum’s website.

National Children’s Museum Details

National Children’s Museum is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20004 and is open Wednesday – Sunday from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. Tickets are $15.95 for adults and children 1+, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as walk-up tickets are limited. There is a Bluestone Lane café on-site with plenty of beverage and snack options for the family, including beer and wine for those 21+!

All exhibits are wheelchair accessible and sensory backpacks are available to borrow at no cost and include noise-reduction headphones as well as fidgets to help ease sensory stimulation. Family memberships start at $190 for one year of free admission for two adults and all children in the household.