Dive into the Deep
Have you ever wondered what lives in the deepest parts of our ocean? Deep-sea ecosystems - from bioluminescent fish to giant tube worms around hydrothermal vents - thrive in these extreme environments. These mysterious habitats cover most of our planet, yet remain largely unexplored. Come learn how scientists explore these remote habitats and why protecting these ecosystems matters for our planet’s future!
Presented by:
Garret O’Donnell - Marine Biologist, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Alyssa Schultz - Marine Scientist & Geographer, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Jason Gronich - Marine Ecologist & Geographer, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Photos above courtesy of Garret O'Donnell, Alyssa Schultz, and Jason Gronich
Thumbnail image: NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: At Home in a Habitat - Arctic Edition
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
On Tuesday, January 13th, explore the different needs animals have that keep them safe and healthy in their habitat with a special focus this week on the Arctic. During this Play Date at NMNH, families will practice identifying needs of animals and create habitats out of different play materials.
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 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, January 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: First floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Life of a Sailor
Have you ever wondered what a sailor's life was like on a traditional wooden ship? Full of hardship and adventure alike, a seagoing life sometimes offered better opportunities than people could find on land. Join our visiting expert to learn about how water has shaped the lives of sailors from the past and present alike. Trace the evolution of sailing from the tall ships of history to the modern ships of today, compare traditional sailing tools with their modern counterparts, test your knot-tying skills, and more!
Presented by: Alia Payne, Maritime Education Coordinator, Department of Maritime Education, Living Classrooms.
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, January 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Natural History on the Big Screen: Walrus: Life on Thin Ice
The walrus is one of the Arctic’s most enigmatic animals. With three-foot long tusks and a droopy mustache, everyone knows what these marine mammals look like, but few ever see them in the wild. For Kirk Johnson, a paleontologist and Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the walrus has been a creature close to his heart for 40 years. Join us at the National Museum of Natural History for a screening of PBS Nature Walrus: Life on Thin Ice followed by a conversation between Kirk Johnson and PBS Executive Producer Fred Kaufman moderated by Associate Director for Advancement and Communications Virginia Kromm. ----, About the episode: Follow a paleontologist on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of walrus and the threats they face as climate change shrinks the sea ice. Most of the world’s walrus, about 250,000 of them, live in the frigid seas between Russia and Alaska. Johnson embarks on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of these lumbering giants and the…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/89847141/natural-history-on-the-big-screenwalruslife-on-thin-ice-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. American Bison Cart Chat
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: First floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Thinking on Your Feet: The Evolution of Human Walking
Interested in how humans learned to walk? Curious about how other primates use their unique feet? Come meet Dr. Alisha Anaya to build a foot and learn about how the different bones allow humans and other primates to use their feet! Dr. Anaya is a Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow in the Departments of Anthropology and Mammalogy exploring how the bones of the foot evolved in humans, apes, and our fossil ancestors, and what those changes reveal about walking, climbing, and life on the ground.
Presented by: Alisha Anaya, Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Anthropology and Department of Mammalogy.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Hall of Human Origins. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Investigating Insects
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about insects! Families can make close observations of select pieces from our insect collection, learn about what makes an insect an insect, and create their own take-home craft to help them remember key physical traits of insects!
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 available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible…
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, January 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Tiny Vampires: The Unique World of Freshwater Mussels
Freshwater mussels are a diverse family of shellfish that can be found in most freshwater systems in the United States. Blending into the stream floor, these unsuspecting shellfish lead an interesting life. Their life cycle involves a parasitic stage, in which they live on the gills of fish. Come discover the unique world of freshwater mussels!
Presented by: Dr. Rachael Finigan, Aquatic Ecologist, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, NOAA National Sea Grant Office
Photos courtesy of Rachael Finigan.
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.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11:00 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.
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Animal Spotlight - Bison!
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, January 27th, is a special animal spotlight on bison! Families can celebrate our national mammal by making observations of bison specimens from our education collection, learn about ways they help their ecosystem, and explore how bison have been portrayed in stamp art. Our friends from the National Postal Museum will also be here to celebrate alongside us as we learn together through play, exploration, and art.
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…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Life of a Sailor
Have you ever wondered what a sailor's life was like on a traditional wooden ship? Full of hardship and adventure alike, a seagoing life sometimes offered better opportunities than people could find on land. Join our visiting expert to learn about how water has shaped the lives of sailors from the past and present alike. Trace the evolution of sailing from the tall ships of history to the modern ships of today, compare traditional sailing tools with their modern counterparts, test your knot-tying skills, and more!
Presented by: Alia Payne, Maritime Education Coordinator, Department of Maritime Education, Living Classrooms.
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, January 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Life of a Sailor
Have you ever wondered what a sailor's life was like on a traditional wooden ship? Full of hardship and adventure alike, a seagoing life sometimes offered better opportunities than people could find on land. Join our visiting expert to learn about how water has shaped the lives of sailors from the past and present alike. Trace the evolution of sailing from the tall ships of history to the modern ships of today, compare traditional sailing tools with their modern counterparts, test your knot-tying skills, and more!
Presented by: Alia Payne, Maritime Education Coordinator, Department of Maritime Education, Living Classrooms.
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.
Sunday, February 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Backyard Bird Count!
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday we invite you to join us to celebrate birds! Together through play and art-making, families will engage in different ways to observe and record their own observations of birds they see outside (or even inside) the museum as well as learn about the Backyard Bird Count event happening February 13-16 all around the world!
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 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…
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, February 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Prehistoric Sea Creatures
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about prehistoric creatures of the Cretaceous ocean! Families can learn about and make close observations of select pieces from our specimen collection, see a mosasaur in a nearby exhibit, and create your own Cretaceous ocean mural. Come and join us for a fun time learning through play and exploration all about these prehistoric sea creatures.
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 possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Explorer Theater in Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Creature Features - Fossil Edition
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday we will explore fossils! At this Play Date, families can learn about and make close observations of fossils from our collection to explore some of the features these prehistoric animals had! 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 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program on the 1st Floor inside the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time exhibit. We will be in the Warner Age of Humans Gallery across from the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. Please note that space for this program 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…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor - David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time exhibit. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Mineral Rainbow
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday we will be exploring color with minerals! Come play, make art, and make up-close observations of colorful mineral specimens.
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. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. Image: Tectosilicate Mineral Amethyst
Image copyright: Smithsonian.
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, March 3, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Save a Spider Day!
Join us for special family Tuesday play date with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about spiders! Come join us as we have an early celebration of "Save a Spider Day" and learn the many wonderful ways spiders help our planet. Families will be able to explore through play, art, and select specimens from our collection.
Want even more spider and arachnid fun? Join us on Saturday, March 14th for our annual "Save a Spider" The World & Me program!
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,…
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, March 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
The World & Me: Save a Spider!
Let's celebrate SPIDERS!
Join us Saturday, March 14th, for a celebration of "Save a Spider Day"! See spider specimens and other arachnids up close, make observations at live tarantula feedings, and learn about the amazing diversity found within the different spider and arachnid species. Scientists from our museum will also share about the science they do to learn more about spiders and will help us debunk common spider myths. Families can join at any time during the duration of the event and stay as long as suits each family.
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: Ground Floor, Q?rius: The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Teeth in the Ocean
Join us for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about ocean animal teeth! Families can make close observations of different sizes and shapes of ocean animal teeth and learn about how different shaped teeth help animals eat. Come and join us for a fun time learning through play, art, 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), their caregivers, and families.
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 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 audio-description…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Nature Explorations
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about exploring your connection with nature! This Play Date is designed around the theme of your family's connections to nature and the nature around you. Make nature journal, see specimens that you might find out in our pollinator garden, and much more!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners aged 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 available with advanced notice. However, accommodations…
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, March 31, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.