Ocean Topics Cart Chat
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Marvelous Meteorites
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, June 17th, is all about exploring the colors, shapes, and textures of objects from space! Families can learn about and make close observations of meteorites from our collection, explore different colors of planets, and create your own play telescope. Come and join us for a fun time learning through play and exploration!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
The Ocean Around Us Tour
Explore the Sant Ocean Hall to learn about some of the exciting animals and habitats featured and how they are connected to your everyday life no matter where you live. This is a 30-minute interactive walking tour where you can meet a North Atlantic Right Whale, find out what is the most productive marine ecosystem, touch coral, and so much more.
Registration is required for this small group tour of up to 10 people. Each visitor may bring up to 3 guests, but the total number of visitors on the tour will be capped at 10.
Photo by Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall, Under the Large Jellyfish. Cost: Free. Registration is required. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Solstice Festival at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
The World & Me team is traveling outside of Natural History this month!
Pack a picnic blanket and snacks for a summer solstice celebration in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden with our collaborators from the National Gallery of Art! Educators from both museums will encourage artful connections with the flora and fauna around you. Check out specimens from the National Museum of Natural History’s education collection, enjoy a Storytime in the garden, and color your own nature scene inspired by the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Continue your creative journey with the acoustic sounds of the Onyx Club Boys and a tour with Ecologist Rea Manderino.
Extend the fun and explore the exhibition Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World in the National Gallery of Art’s West Building. This exhibit features specimens from the National Museum of Natural History’s collection and artworks from the National Gallery of Art. Interested in exploring more “Little Beasts” in Natural History’s…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
The Ocean Around Us Tour
Explore the Sant Ocean Hall to learn about some of the exciting animals and habitats featured and how they are connected to your everyday life no matter where you live. This is a 30-minute interactive walking tour where you can meet a North Atlantic Right Whale, find out what is the most productive marine ecosystem, touch coral, and so much more.
Registration is required for this small group tour of up to 10 people. Each visitor may bring up to 3 guests, but the total number of visitors on the tour will be capped at 10.
Photo by Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall, Under the Large Jellyfish. Cost: Free. Registration is required. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 23, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Colorful Corals
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, June 24th is all about exploring coral reefs! Families will learn about coral polyps (the tiny animals that help to build-up the reef), create their own artwork inspired by coral reefs, and look up close at coral specimens from the museum’s collection.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5), their caregivers, and families.
Location: This program is held in the Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Explorer Theater in Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Connected Devices, 5G Networks, and the Future of Cellphones
Have you ever wondered how smart devices connect with each other through 5G networks, or what phones could do 10 or 20 years from now? Come meet David Glaser and Dr. Mary Young, Solution Engineer and Education Advisor at T-Mobile, to learn all about the smart devices we use every day, and the ones we may use in the future!
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Cellphone Exhibition Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Cellphone: Unseen Connections. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Fishy Business in the Eye of the Hurricane
Hurricanes are strong tropical storms that form over the ocean and have a rotating center with winds of at least 74 MPH (about 119 KMH). These tropical cyclones can leave behind a path of destruction and chaos on land, but how do animals in the ocean survive during hurricanes? Come discover how sharks and different fishes use their cool adaptations to their advantage. Along the way, we will also learn about natural features in our coastlines that help protect us and how we can prepare for hurricane season this summer!
Presented by: Ana Silverio, M.S. Marine Biologist, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - The National Sea Grant Office
Image credit: Ana Silverio (left), NOAA NESDIS Environmental Visualization Laboratory (right).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
The Mantis Shrimp: Beautiful, Dangerous, and Powerful
Ever wonder what the most powerful punch in the ocean feels like? It feels like a .22 caliber bullet -- so fast that it generates its own light and heat...and it comes from an animal that's only about 7 inches in size.
Come learn about the mantis shrimp– one of the most beautiful, unique, and deadly animals in the ocean!
Presented by: Kara Chuang, M.S. Marine Scientist, Knauss Fellow
Image credit: Cédric Péneau, Wikimedia Commons.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 27, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
The World & Me: Caring for the Future of our Planet with Company E and Sound Impact
Join us for a special The World & Me as we celebrate diversity found in nature, movement, and the planet we call home with local dancers from Company | E, musicians from Sound Impact, and educators from the National Museum of Natural History. Watch a performance titled Letters to Earth*, explore different hands-on activities with museum specimens, and discover ways to make an impact in taking care of Earth for future generations.
Performances will be 10:20 - 10:50 & 11:30 - 12:00.
Hands-on stations and activities will be open 10:50 - 11:30. More about Letters to Earth
The Earth is made of the magic of nature. Wondrous ecosystems – biomes – which make up the world we call home. For one special morning, the dancers and storytellers of Company | E and the Musicians of Sound Impact invite you to explore the Letters we write to Earth. A celebration and, at the same time, a cautionary tale of our impact on those biomes as told in the stories of “We Hear You – A Climate Archive.” 77 young people from around the…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Ground Floor. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Kids & Families. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
The World & Me: Life ON and IN the Ocean!
Join us for a special The World & Me as we explore life IN and ON the ocean with our friends from Living Classrooms! Come learn from educators about sailors, working on a boat, how boats communicate with one another, and where you can visit the Mildred Belle, a Chesapeake Bay buyboat. Look up close at oysters and specimens from our museum's collections while being inspired to design your own postage stamp in celebration of buyboats like the Mildred Belle.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Ground Floor. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, August 2, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: At Home in a Habitat
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, August 5th is all about the rainforest! During this program, families will be able to make observations of different rainforest animals from our collection (including a leafcutter ant and a sloth) and learn about how the rainforest provides a safe place for many different animals to live. Families will also be invited to take a look at the rainforest area of the exhibit!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners, their caregivers, and families to explore different natural history themes through art, play, and exploration.
Location: This program is held in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens,…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: World Elephant Day!
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is a special celebration for elephants! World Elephant Day is August 12th! Come explore different elephant teeth, make your own habitat for our elephant toys, and create your own artwork on "elephant-made" paper!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation,…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: World Orangutan Day!
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is a special celebration for orangutans! World Orangutan Day is August 19th! Come learn through play about these animals, about make your own habitat for our orangutan and other primate toys, and create your own orangutan with arms built for climbing and hanging!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Dive into the Deep Sea
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday will be all about taking a closer look at what life is like in the deep sea at the bottom of the ocean! Even though it is very dark (except for the bioluminescent animals), the deepest parts of the ocean are still full of life. Together we will learn about some of the unique animals that have adapted to live in the deep sea, make artwork inspired by the deep sea, and have the chance to see specimens that once lived at the bottom of the ocean!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in the Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall. Ocean Hall is on the 1st floor. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Little Beasts
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about exploring artful connections to nature as we celebrate our collaboration with the National Gallery of Art! Check out "little beasts" inspired specimens from education collection and create artwork inspired by artworks on display at the National Gallery of Art!
Extend the fun and explore the exhibition Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World in the National Gallery of Art’s West Building. This exhibit features specimens from the National Museum of Natural History’s collection and artworks from the National Gallery of Art. Interested in exploring more “Little Beasts” in Natural History’s collections? Head on over to the Natural History Museum and check out the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals on the 1st floor, Bone Hall on the 2nd floor, and the O. Orkin Insect Zoo on the 2nd floor!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Volcanic Explorations
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about exploring volcanoes! Families will learn about different types of lava flow, create their own lava-flow inspired volcano artwork, and look up close at Igneous rock specimen (rocks that are formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies) from the museum’s collection.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5), their caregivers, and families.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice.…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.