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Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join educators in the "Bison: Standing Strong" exhibit 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: 2nd Floor, Bison: Standing Strong exhibit. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Virtual Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join educators from the National Postal Museum for live, interactive story time. Designed for children ages 4-7, but all are welcome!
Mondays at 11:00 (ET) National Postal Museum educators will read stories aloud and lead related activities in a Zoom meeting for children and their caregivers. Explore a range of postal-related topics and more! Sessions will be interactive and last approximately 45-60 minutes. Caregivers are expected to be present with children for the duration of the program.
Event Location: Online Only. Online Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/story-time-with-the-national-postal-museum-registration-141338917507. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/story-time-with-the-national-postal-museum-registration-141338917507. Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Tours | Arts of China
Gallery Talks & Tours
Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics.
Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Converse with a docent. Learn how African Americans flourished in their own communities during the Era of Segregation 1876-1968 despite the turmoil around them. Under a time of intense pressure to take away their rights as citizens, African Americans not only survived the challenges set before them but crafted an important role for themselves in the nation.
Image Credit: NMAAHC.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: This one-hour tour program meets in the Defending Freedom, The Era of Segregation 1876-1968 exhibit, located on C2. Tours take place at 12:45 PM and 2:45 PM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 12:45 PM – 3:45 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Slavery and Freedom Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Explore the complex story of slavery and freedom. Visitors will view priceless objects, connect to the past, and hear about the actions of ordinary men and women, demanding freedom and transforming our nation.
Photo Credit: NMAAHC.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the Slavery and Freedom exhibition, located on C3. One hour tours take place at 1:15 PM and 2:45 PM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Slavery and Freedom.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Permanent Collection Tour
Gallery Talks & Tours
The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Tour | The Peacock Room at 150
Gallery Talks & Tours
Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
The Smithsonian in the Arctic: More Than a Century and a Half of Collecting, Research, and Exhibition
All Programs
In 1877, Spencer Baird, the second Secretary of the Smithsonian, dispatched naturalist Edward W. Nelson to the wilds of Alaska for four years, where he became known as “the man who collects good-for-nothing things.” Those things are now among the treasures of the Smithsonian’s anthropology collection. William Fitzhugh, the director of the Smithsonian’s Arctic Studies Center, discusses how Nelson’s research laid the foundation for 150 years of natural history and anthropological studies, as well as exhibits and public programs.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smithsonian-in-arctic?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smithsonian-in-arctic?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
The Art of Indigo, Inspired by George Washington Carver
One-Time Events
Join Kenya Miles, founder of Blue Light Junction, for an in-person workshop exploring the art and history of natural indigo dyeing. Participants will learn about the cultural significance of indigo, the dyeing process, and techniques for creating unique patterns while dyeing their own bandana to take home. We will also be joined by Museum Curator Jeanelle K. Hope shares insights into Carver’s practice of experimentation and ingenuity at Tuskegee University. This workshop is presented in support of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s traveling exhibition, At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.
Who this workshop is for:Families and intergenerational groups who want to create together, Individuals curious about natural dyes, Beginners and experienced practitioners, Anyone looking to deepen their connection to material-based practices and learn more about Carver’s legacy,
For Inquiries, please email NMAAHCEngage@si.edu.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor Classroom. Cost: This workshop has sold out. Categories: Workshops. After Five. Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Lincoln's Tragic Admiral: Samuel Francis Du Pont
All Programs
Rear Adm. Samuel Francis Du Pont, once considered among the Navy’s finest officers, suffered lasting damage to his reputation after the failed 1863 ironclad attack on Charleston. Though praised early in the Civil War for securing a major Union victory, he was later miscast as resistant to innovation. Historian Kevin J. Weddle argues that Du Pont supported technological progress but opposed using ironclads for this mission. Overruled by superiors, he carried out the attack, which ended his career. Weddle restores Du Pont’s overlooked contributions to naval modernization and strategy.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/lincolns-tragic-admiral?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/lincolns-tragic-admiral?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Folklife @ Arts and Industries Building
Spotlight Programs
In June and July, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage hosts free programs in the Arts and Industries Building, including the Folklife Marketplace gift shop, hands-on activities with artists and radio DJs, a pop-up exhibition of objects and stories from past Folklife Festivals, and the conversation series “For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250.”
Folklife Marketplace June 16–July 12 (Tuesday through Sunday)
The Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace is bringing together artists and makers from across the United States in a place where culture is not just displayed but actively exchanged—a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. Visitors can shop, attend hands-on workshops with local and visiting artists, enjoy music and interviews, as well as explore Folklife Festival history in the Storied Objects exhibition.
See the full Marketplace schedule and register for workshops on Eventbrite.
For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future…
Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Workshops. Kids & Families. Lectures & Discussions. Cost: Free to enter. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Event Location: Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Arts and Industries Building
Washington, D.C.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Little Critters: Nature Play at the Bird House (Things That Go)
NZP Kids and Families
HONK! HONK! BEEP! BEEP!
Join us for creative, drop-in play at the Zoo as we explore vehicles that help Zoo workers do their jobs! Little Critters: Nature Play is designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children.
Location: Bird House Classroom.
Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Bird House Classroom. Cost: Free drop-in program; no pre-registration required.Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu. Estudio de Cuentos: Un caluroso día de verano
One time events
Estudio de Cuentos is held the third Tuesday of every month. Facilitation is entirely in Spanish. We recommend that at least one person in your group (child or caregiver) speaks Spanish. This program’s English-language version, Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day, will be held Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18. SOBRE ESTUDIO DE CUENTOS
Estudio de Cuentos ocurre el tercer martes de cada mes, a las 10 y 11 de la mañana, y está diseñado para niños desde recién nacidos hasta los 6 años y sus cuidadores. Los participantes son bienvenidos a nuestro estudio de arte para disfrutar de una hora especial de juego, lecturas en voz alta, y exploración artística. El programa es completamente en español, y se recomienda que por lo menos un miembro de su grupo (niño o cuidador) hable español.
Estudio de Cuentos tiene cupo limitado. La entrada es por orden de llegada. ESTA SEMANA
Refréscate en el rocío de una boca de incendio, o “johnnypump,” junto al niño y el perro en la célebre pintura de 1982 del artista…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Folklife Marketplace Open Hours
Folklife Marketplace
Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Radio Corner: Deanwood Radio × ART FM / WXOX
Folklife Marketplace
Hang out with the DJs of ART FM / WXOX 97.1 based in Louisville, Kentucky, and connect as they broadcast interviews, conversations, and music live from the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall.
Joining them will be the Deanwood Radio Broadcast Youth Journalism Program, which educates young people about the importance of broadcast journalism and the role that it can play in bringing about change in communities. Based in the Deanwood neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. the program equips students with skills in research, interviewing, and production that prepare them for careers in journalism, communications, and related fields.
ART FM provides a space for expression and a frequency for experimentation. Live 24/7/365 on WXOX 97.1 FM in Louisville and on artxfm.com worldwide, this community radio station is dedicated to providing artists and community members with access to the airwaves for free and creative use.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit www.artxfm.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Art in the A.M.
One-Time Events
Inspire early childhood creativity with SAAM during Art in the A.M. Children ages up to 5 years and their caregivers are invited to the museum before hours to learn, connect, and create in the galleries. During this program, participants will explore the exhibition Nick Cave: Mammoth by playing a game of I Spy, then create their own paper puppet mini mammoth.
Registration for this program will close on Monday, June 15, at noon.
Image credit: Installation photography of Nick Cave: Mammoth, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2026, ©Nick Cave; Photo by RON BLUNT STUDIO.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in G Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3MQYP. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Nick Cave: Mammoth.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:30 AM.
CANCELLED - Play Date at NMNH: Megalodon Day!
One-Time Events
THIS PROGRAM IS CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE
Tuesday, June 16th will be a post-celebration of Megalodon Day (June 15th)! While Megalodons, an ancient shark that lived 23 – 3.5 million years ago, are no longer swimming in our ocean, people of all ages are fascinated by its size and large teeth! Together we will learn about this ancient shark that used to roam the ocean, make our own wearable artwork inspired by Megalodon teeth, and have the chance to hold a real Megalodon tooth!
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…
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 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Flights of Fancy Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Learn how construction vehicles like belt loaders and snowplows help to build airport runways and clear snow. This wonderful story by Sherri Duskey Rinker with rhyming text and vibrant illustrations invites us to learn how helping others is fun.
Takes place at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center each Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am and 11:30 am.
These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Ask at the Welcome Center for the exact location of that day's story time. Cost: Free, Parking $15. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Latin Music Fans: Making Culture & Keeping Tradition
For the Common Good
Join a music-filled conversation about the current resurgence of salsa, the role of DJs and radio hosts in circulating musical knowledge, and music’s capacity to build community and recover history.
You’ll hear from Pablo Yglesias (DJ Bongohead) and Ranald Woodaman, assistant director of exhibition development at the National Museum of the American Latino and lead curator of its new exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/_XOj8hwVdI8?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Tours | Arts of Japan
Gallery Talks & Tours
As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Workshops
Register to join the sessions.
Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections.
All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Katsushika Hokusai / National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.269.
Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/ymJH4SNfSjKwSlHROFxfyw. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/ymJH4SNfSjKwSlHROFxfyw. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Permanent Collection Tour
Gallery Talks & Tours
The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Notes on “Our Shared Future 250”
For the Common Good
What does the U.S. semiquincentennial mean to the Smithsonian? What role do its researchers, educators, archivists, security staff, and others play in advancing the country’s ideals and aspirations? A captivating answer can be found in the Smithsonian’s major initiative Our Shared Future: 250, a national invitation to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and imagine the future together.
Join Lisa Sasaki, Smithsonian Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects, and Julissa Marenco, Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, in a wide-ranging conversation about the process of organizing a large-scale effort, what this work says about the Smithsonian’s own aspirations and connections to community, and what the next 250 years of outreach, education, and engagement at the Smithsonian might bring. Smithsonian Folklife Festival director Sabrina Lynn Motley will moderate.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Ij7KtjY5yi4?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Expert: Julia Child's Kitchen
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet a curator and learn more about Julia Child's kitchen.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 East. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: FOOD: Transforming the American Table. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Tour | The Peacock Room at 150
Gallery Talks & Tours
Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Virtual Tour | Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Gallery Talks & Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Under the Wave off Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. On this virtual tour, explore featured works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai, both large and small, from six-panel folding screens and hanging scrolls to paintings and drawings. Together, these works reveal an artistic genius who thought he might finally achieve true mastery in painting—if he lived to the age of 110. Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760–1849); The Sazaidō of the Gohyakurakan-ji, from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei); Edo period, ca. 1830–1831; ink and color on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of the family of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer, F1974.63.
Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KpRTk6DOTaGRBAJTZnXwzQ. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Captioning.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Analog Nights
One-Time Events
Slow down, unwind, and take a break from doomscrolling with a screen-free night of creativity and community at the Portrait Gallery. Bring your favorite analog hobby and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the Kogod Courtyard. Need inspiration? Think needlepoint, knitting, sketching, watercolor, junk journaling, mahjong, and more. Each Analog Night will feature a spotlight activity inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Come solo or with friends! For ages 18+.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/analog-nights-tickets-1982549304338?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. After Five.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Art and Kingship in Southeast Asia
All Programs
Strategically located for trade, rich in resources, and containing a variety of cultural traditions, the civilizations of mainland and island Southeast Asia are among the most dynamic in the world. Art historian Robert DeCaroli examines the cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia from the earliest archaeological evidence to the onset of colonialism, with a focus on the royal arts of the great civilizations that arose within the borders of modern Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-kingship-in-southeast-asia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-kingship-in-southeast-asia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Le Marche: Majestic Nature and Artistic Riches
All Programs
Art historian Sophia D’Addio surveys Le Marche, along the Adriatic east of Umbria, which features beaches, Apennine peaks, and rolling hills with towns. Urbino, Raphael’s hometown, shines as an artistic hub, while Loreto has drawn pilgrims since the 14th century. Beyond these marvels, D’Addio highlights more off-the-beaten-path destinations. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/italian-regions-le-marche?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/italian-regions-le-marche?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM.
The Boston Tea Party: A Budding Revolution
All Programs
The 1773 Boston Tea Party arose from colonial outrage over the Tea Act, a measure meant to curb smuggling and aid the East India Company but viewed in Boston as a monopoly threatening colonial liberty. Merchants denounced the act, and tensions peaked when three tea-laden ships arrived. About 100 men boarded the vessels and dumped the cargo into the harbor. Historian Richard Bell interprets the protest as an early stand against corporate power and global economic influence, an act that worsened relations between the Crown and colonies and helped set the stage for revolution.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/boston-tea-party?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/boston-tea-party?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Seafood 101: How to Shop Smarter, Eat Better and Rethink Aquaculture
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Navigating seafood can feel confusing, from labels and sourcing claims to ongoing debates around sustainability and aquaculture. In this talk Imani Black, founder of Minorities in Aquaculture, will break down how consumers can better understand the seafood they’re buying and eating, including how to read seafood labels, what to look for at the market and how to ask the right questions. She'll also address some of the most common misconceptions about aquaculture and what it actually means for our food systems. Grounded in real-world experience, this session will help people feel more confident and informed in their seafood choices. By the end, attendees will have practical tools to make decisions that align with their values, budgets and access.
This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and…
Event Location: Online only. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/9017708431778/WN_VtTegCtlS5-0EGOmxMgH8w. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/9017708431778/WN_VtTegCtlS5-0EGOmxMgH8w. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit smithsonian.zoom.us. Wellness Wednesdays
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and wellness expert Aparna Sadananda for mindfulness programs inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. On the first Wednesday of each month, join us for an artful meditation, where we will practice slow looking and experience portraiture through breath and slow movement. On the third Wednesday of each month, join us for a wellness program that inspires the senses and includes sound baths and musical meditation. These programs are for ages 18+ and are suitable for all skill levels. No experience is necessary.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-wellness-wednesdays-tickets-1982011714392?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
National History Day Exhibit Showcase
One-Time Events
Open spaces on all three floors will be taken over by 50 table-top displays created by middle and high school students competing in the 2026 National History Day national contest. Their exhibits represent topics relevant to their state and local communities and reflect the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Join us to view their exhibits and interact with students. This showcase is free and open to the public.
The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 East, 2 East, 2 West, 3 East. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
DC | In Language There is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola
One-Time Events
On Wednesday, June 17, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) will host a special “In Language There is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” Showcase. This showcase will feature middle and high school students from Hawai‘i who completed a National History Day project in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and qualified at the Hawaiʻi affiliate contest. These students were invited to Washington, D.C. to share their work with a national audience. Their projects show perspectives and understanding vital to their culture and support larger community efforts that give life to Indigenous languages.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1, Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Demonstrations. Lectures & Discussions.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Cool off in the spray from a fire hydrant, or “johnnypump,” alongside a boy and dog in a celebrated 1982 painting by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat now on view at the Museum. Then we’ll make watercolor artworks to beat the summer heat.
Featured book: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each program day, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
No pre-registration is required.
Entry to Storytime Studio is first-come, first-served. Once the…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Folklife Marketplace Open Hours
Folklife Marketplace
Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Radio Corner: Deanwood Radio × ART FM / WXOX
Folklife Marketplace
Hang out with the DJs of ART FM / WXOX 97.1 based in Louisville, Kentucky, and connect as they broadcast interviews, conversations, and music live from the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall.
Joining them will be the Deanwood Radio Broadcast Youth Journalism Program, which educates young people about the importance of broadcast journalism and the role that it can play in bringing about change in communities. Based in the Deanwood neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. the program equips students with skills in research, interviewing, and production that prepare them for careers in journalism, communications, and related fields.
ARTxFM provides a space for expression and a frequency for experimentation. Live 24/7/365 on WXOX 97.1 FM in Louisville and on artxfm.com worldwide, this community radio station is dedicated to providing artists and community members with access to the airwaves for free and creative use.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit www.artxfm.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Science on a Sphere
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Come explore our blue planet with NMNH Ocean Educators. Through NOAA’s Science on a Sphere technology, you’ll encounter a series of interactive visualizations projected on the Sant Ocean Hall’s giant globe. Watch sea turtles migrate coast to coast, track ships through global waters in real-time, explore the changing climate patterns shaping our planet, and much more!
Photo credit: Jennifer Renteria, 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.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Science in the City: A Conversation with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
For the Common Good
Science in the City brings together senior scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, based in Edgewater, Maryland, to discuss how coastal research on water systems, trees, and wildlife connects directly to life in our cities.
Join Katrina Lohan, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab; Rebecca Hale, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab; and Roy Rich, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Technology in Ecology Lab as they share insights on parasites, urban watersheds, and animal responses to environmental change—and why these findings matter for human health, urban design, and resilient communities. Internship and fellowship coordinator Heather Richardson will moderate.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Y2L5MUE46Qw?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit serc.si.edu. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
National History Day Performance Showcase
One-Time Events
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will feature select performances starring and created by middle and high school students for the 2026 National History Day national contest. Join us for these performances that will highlight a range of under-told stories in American history that reflect the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” This showcase is free and open to the public.
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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible, and ASL services will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Hall of Music. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
African Art and Aesthetics
All Programs
Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar provides an introductory history to African art and aesthetics, addressing the terminology used when describing the art. Cassar highlights main concepts found in African art, including the flexed-knee motif and representations of maternity and fertility. He provides a close look at a variety of styles of masks, from expressive to abstract, executed in wood, ivory, and bronze. Cassar also discusses the challenges of studying African art, as well as its influence on modern European painters and sculptors. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/african-art-and-aesthetics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/african-art-and-aesthetics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Biggest, Fewest, and Weirdest: How Challenges of the Extreme Made Math
All Programs
Many of the most significant areas of mathematics have emerged from questions about extremes: the shortest path between two points on a curved surface, the fewest colors needed for a map, the fastest fall, or the shortest proof. To illuminate how mathematicians drive knowledge forward by reaching for the edges, author and mathematician Ian Stewart explores stories of superlative problems—their history, the struggles to solve them, and the uses of some of the results.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/biggest-fewest-and-weirdest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/biggest-fewest-and-weirdest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Permanent Collection Tour
Gallery Talks & Tours
The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Registrars 101
For the Common Good
Often out of public view, registration is an integral cornerstone in the care of museum collections objects. Through loans, donations, purchases, bequests, field collecting, and more, objects come into the custody and care of the Smithsonian. Registrars handle logistics, agreements, data, and legal records associated with all objects coming in and out of the museum. Through stewarding data, handling insurance, coordinating shipping, and navigating a whole host of odd problems, registrars help preserve history for the common good.
This conversation features Erik Satrum, chief registrar at the National Air and Space Museum; Andrea Jain, head registrar at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; and Emily Conforto, associate registrar for exhibitions and loans at the National Museum of Natural History. These Smithsonian experts will explain the important work that they do, the incredible collections they work with on a daily basis, and some of the odder problems they have had to solve. From spacesuits to huge…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/yN-90bEyrpA?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit siarchives.si.edu. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Tour | The Peacock Room at 150
Gallery Talks & Tours
Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Spotlight Talk: Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean
Gallery Talks & Tours
Catch a twenty-minute gallery talk about the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia in Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean. At nearly twenty feet, this newly conserved sculpture depicts Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence. Delve into its original context in ancient Angkor and the present-day Cambodian community. Composite image: (top) Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta (Endless One); Cambodia, Siem Reap province, second half of 11th century; bronze, mercury gilding; National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh; Photograph by Mario Ciampi, ©️ Guicciardini & Magni Architetti / (bottom) Still from the short film Awkun; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Film by praCh Ly.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 22c. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Fostering Civic Action in Youth | Cultivating Learning
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
As America turns 250 in 2026, young people are writing its next chapter. Join a group of educators who apply interdisciplinary approaches to learning to engage young people in civic dialogue tied to their communities. Through a range of Smithsonian programs and resources, youth interact with historical and contemporary sources to understand their local histories while also contemplating a future that is shaped in response to present-day priorities. These programs support youth in developing stronger civic identities and encourage them to take active roles in preserving and protecting the rich histories within the communities where they live.
We will explore case studies that model collaboration with students and action planning using historical sources, oral histories, photography, literature, art and more, to encourage youth voice as part of imagining any community's future. You'll leave with access to lesson plans, program models, toolkits, and opportunities to join the Smithsonian as an education partner…
Event Location: Online. Cost: Free. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Related Events: In this special 2025-2026 Cultivating Learning series, "Celebrating America at 250," Smithsonian educators share teaching techniques and resources that help tell the story of America's 250th. The series celebrates well-known people, events, and accomplishments of our nation and also provides opportunities to discuss lesser-told histories that together form our national narrative. Join us to explore strategies for using digital museum resources to support student learning at this milestone moment in American… Accessibility: Captioning.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Natural History on the Big Screen: Bring Them Home Screening and Q&A (*Rescheduled from May 28*)
One-Time Events
Bison: Standing Strong, the newest exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History explores the remarkable story of bison; how these iconic animals shaped North American landscapes for more than 100,000 years and anchored Indigenous lifeways for generations, and the dedicated efforts to ensure their survival after they were pushed to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
Join us for a screening of Bring Them Home, a film that tells the story of the Blackfoot people striving to re-establish wild buffalo on tribal land after 100 years of absence. The film recounts efforts to restore buffalo, land, traditional culture and bring healing to the Blackfeet community. Narrated and executive produced by Oscar nominee, Blackfeet/Nez Perce actor, Lily Gladstone, the film has been an audience favorite at festivals.
After the screening, Sant Director Kirk Johnson moderates a conversation with Ivan MacDonald, co-director and producer of the film, and Sarah Johnson, postdoctoral fellow at NMNH researching bison…
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/95797313/natural-history-on-the-big-screenbring-them-home-screening-and-qa-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Films. Related Exhibition: Bison: Standing Strong. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. Idealists in the Shadows: Helping World War II Refugees
All Programs
Despite prevailing isolationist public opinion and an obstructionist government, an informal American humanitarian network of citizen activists delivered aid to and rescued many victims of Nazi oppression before and during World War II. History professor Andrew Falk tells the story of this group of citizens who organized to provide emergency relief, establish programs overseas, and resettle thousands of persecuted people in safe havens stretching from Latin America to East Asia.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/idealists-in-shadows?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/idealists-in-shadows?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Foraging Wild Food through the Seasons with Eating the Ozarks
Folklife Marketplace
This worktalk, guided by instructor Rachael West, explores how to forage responsibly and confidently throughout the year, focusing on seasonal cycles and the edible plants that emerge in each phase. Participants will learn to identify common, safe-to-harvest wild foods such as greens, berries, roots, and flowers, while gaining an understanding of plant life cycles, habitats, and ethical harvesting practices. We’ll discuss how to integrate wild foods into everyday meals, as well as how to build a deeper relationship with the land through observation and seasonal awareness. The worktalk is perfect for beginners and those looking to deepen their connection to place.
West is the owner, lead instructor, and founder of Eating the Ozarks, which offers foraging classes, wild-infused meals, and special event catering in southwest Missouri.
Advance registration is required for this paid session. , Accessibility: Auto-generated captions will be available for this workshop through the Zoom platform. If you require…
Stage: Online. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Captioning. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Unhidden Heroines
Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is launching "Unhidden Heroines," an augmented reality experience that brings the stories of five women from American history to life for visitors in DC and audiences across the country. Through geolocation and custom illustrations, audiences of all ages are invited to step into the world of our "Unhidden Heroines" and encounter the stories of Polly Cooper, Julia Ward Howe, Dorothy Height, Elizebeth Smith Friedman, and Mary Katharine Goddard as if told firsthand. Using AR technology and interactive storytelling, the experience connects the histories of these daring women to the iconic National Mall, bringing their stories to light and memorializing their accomplishments.
"Unhidden Heroines" is accessible by scanning a QR code on your smartphone. Visitors to the Mall can hold up their phones to each monument and the stories of each woman will appear. Audiences are also able to access the experience remotely from an…
Event Location: Online, National Mall. Online Link: https://womenshistory.si.edu/unhidden-heroines. Cost: Free. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning.
Thursday, June 18, 2026 – Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Consider This with Poet & Novelist Naomi Shihab Nye
“By the People” Events
7 p.m. PT
Join Oregon Humanities for a conversation with the extraordinary poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye about nations and communities. What makes this nation, the United States, what it is? How do nations change over time, and what moves those changes? How do communities become what we hope them to be? How should we strive to live together in community?
See the whole Consider This event series.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Cost: $15 (limited number of free tickets). Get Tickets/Register: https://albertarosetheatre.com/event/consider-this-with-naomi-shihab-nye/alberta-rose-theatre/portland-oregon/. Event Location: Portland, Oregon.
Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Alberta Rose Theatre
Portland, OR.
For more info visit oregonhumanities.org. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Little Critters: Nature Play at the Bird House (Things That Go)
NZP Kids and Families
HONK! HONK! BEEP! BEEP!
Join us for creative, drop-in play at the Zoo as we explore vehicles that help Zoo workers do their jobs! Little Critters: Nature Play is designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children.
Location: Bird House Classroom.
Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Bird House Classroom. Cost: Free drop-in program; no pre-registration required.Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu. Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Cool off in the spray from a fire hydrant, or “johnnypump,” alongside a boy and dog in a celebrated 1982 painting by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat now on view at the Museum. Then we’ll make watercolor artworks to beat the summer heat.
Featured book: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each program day, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
No pre-registration is required.
Entry to Storytime Studio is first-come, first-served. Once the…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Big Objects, Big Stories: Point of Pines Plantation Slave Cabin
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join us for a docent-led tour to get a fresh look into the Museum's featured object. At each of these 15-minute talks visitors will hear incredibly big stories about a big object.
About this Program: Visitors cannot overlook the Point of Pines Plantation Slave Cabin, a circa early 1800s slave cabin from the Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto Island, S.C. The cabin is one of two remaining slave dwellings on Edisto Island. Its story provides a revealing glimpse into the most formative and troubling chapters in American history.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets at the Point of Pines Planation Slave Cabin, Level C3. Talks take place at: 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Slavery and Freedom Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Explore the complex story of slavery and freedom. Visitors will view priceless objects, connect to the past, and hear about the actions of ordinary men and women, demanding freedom and transforming our nation.
Photo Credit: NMAAHC.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the Slavery & Freedom exhibition, located on C3. One hour tours take place at 10:15 AM and 11:45 AM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Folklife Marketplace Open Hours
Folklife Marketplace
Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Radio Corner: ART FM / WXOX
Folklife Marketplace
Come hang out with the DJs of ART FM / WXOX 97.1 based in Louisville, Kentucky, and connect as they broadcast interviews, conversations, and music live from the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall.
ART FM provides a space for expression and a frequency for experimentation. Live 24/7/365 on WXOX 97.1 FM in Louisville and on artxfm.com worldwide, this community radio station is dedicated to providing artists and community members with access to the airwaves for free and creative use.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit www.artxfm.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Flights of Fancy Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight
Ongoing Activities
Learn how construction vehicles like belt loaders and snowplows help to build airport runways and clear snow. This wonderful story by Sherri Duskey Rinker with rhyming text and vibrant illustrations invites us to learn how helping others is fun.
Takes place each at the National Air and Space Museum in DC each Thursday at 11 am.
No event reservations, but remember to get your free timed-entry pass to the Museum.
These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: At the National Air and Space Museum in DC. Ask at the Welcome Center for that day's exact location. Cost: This is a free drop-in story time. You will need free timed-entry passes to enter the Museum. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Flights of Fancy Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Learn how construction vehicles like belt loaders and snowplows help to build airport runways and clear snow. This wonderful story by Sherri Duskey Rinker with rhyming text and vibrant illustrations invites us to learn how helping others is fun.
Takes place at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center each Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am and 11:30 am.
These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Ask at the Welcome Center for the exact location of that day's story time. Cost: Free, Parking $15. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
What a Dream Can Do: Celebrating Ten Years of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
For the Common Good
During the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on September 24, 2016, Congressman John Lewis declared, “Oh, say! What a dream can do!”
To celebrate the museum’s tenth anniversary in 2026, What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy, the NMAAHC’s first full-size collection book will be published this fall. This publication captures Lewis’s dream through a look at how select objects made their way into the permanent collection that grew from nearly 35,000 objects leading up to the opening to more than 46,000 objects today. Containing essays by forty-five current and former museum staff, as well as a preface by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, the publication features visual art, photography and film, multimedia works, and historic objects from the seventeenth century to the present.
To learn more about this anniversary volume and the behind-the-scenes work involved in building a collection that helps tell the story of the African American…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/N0pERV7P9fc. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit nmaahc.si.edu. Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM.
Peacock Room Shutters Open
National Museum of Asian Art
Third Thursday of every month.
Free, no registration required.
See the Peacock Room in a whole new light! Please join us for a beloved NMAA tradition: our third Thursday opening of the Peacock Room shutters. Experience this unique masterwork of art and design in a whole new way as natural light reveals details of James McNeill Whistler's painted interior and accents the gleaming surfaces of Charles Lang Freer's collection of Asian ceramics.
The shutters are open from noon to 5:30 p.m. every third Thursday of each month.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Freer gallery 12 (Peacock Room). Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
Tours | Arts of Japan
Gallery Talks & Tours
As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
The Venice Biennale: From 1895 to Today
All Programs
Every two years, the Venice Biennale transforms Venice into a living museum. This cultural extravaganza has grown into one of the world’s most influential exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater, showcasing groundbreaking work from more than 90 nations. In a 2-session series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the biennale’s rich past and its landmark 2026 edition. This session focuses on the 2026 Biennale. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/venice-biennale-1D0160B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/venice-biennale-1D0160B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Yoga and Aging: Accessible Yoga Practices
All Programs
Yoga therapist Linda Lang introduces seated and chair-based practices rooted in classical yoga and integrative medicine. She demonstrates adaptable postures, breathwork, and mindful movement that honor physical changes while preserving therapeutic value. Participants learn key seated poses, supported standing options, and everyday mobility strategies to enhance balance, joint health, and functional movement. Emphasis is placed on safe alignment, effective prop use, and modifications for common concerns. The inclusive, experiential session invites participation, observation, questions, and discussion.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/yoga-and-aging?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/yoga-and-aging?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Closer Look: Water's Edge
One-Time Events
Join Rebecca Trautmann, curator of Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, for an in-gallery conversation with Dakota Hoska (Oglála Lakȟóta Nation, Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee), curator of Native American and Global Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Art. Together, they will offer visitors a closer look at selected artworks in the exhibition. Dakota Hoska is the curator of Native American and Global Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Hoska was previously the Associate Curator of Native Arts and NAGPRA coordinator for the Denver Art Museum (DAM), after serving as a Research Assistant at the Minneapolis Institute of Art where she worked on the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists. She holds a MA in Art History (focus on Native American Art History) from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN (2019), a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (2012), and she completed two years of Dakhóta language at the University of…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3, exhibition gallery. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Expert: Cryptocurrency
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet curator Ellen Feingold and learn about a famous cryptocurrency heist.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Value of Money, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Permanent Collection Tour
Gallery Talks & Tours
The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
The Promise of a Nation: Essays on 250 Years of American History
For the Common Good
Published this spring by Smithsonian Books, The Promise of a Nation explores 250 years of American history through twenty-six vignettes by Smithsonian scholars and more than 600 objects from the national collection. Through the lenses of patriotism, resilience, and aspirations, the book encourages audiences to contemplate possibilities for the future by contemplating the past and present. Taking a decade-by-decade approach from the 1770s to the 2020s, content experts help to animate collectively relevant themes by personalizing the country’s history. The Promise of a Nation reflects on how people, events, and objects have shaped the national identity.
In this conversation, editorial committee chair Tasha Coleman, senior content coordinator Jim Deutsch, and chapter authors Sojin Kim (Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage) and Andrew Meade McGee (National Air and Space Museum) highlight key themes, surprising discoveries from the research process, and what the book reveals about the Smithsonian’s enduring…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/H5GAa1OYG7Y?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit www.smithsonianbooks.com. Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Tours | Arts Across Asia
Gallery Talks & Tours
Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan.
Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Tour | The Peacock Room at 150
Gallery Talks & Tours
Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Chalk the Block with Ground Shift Studio
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and Ground Shift Studios for a fun-filled afternoon chalk-in. Open to participants of all ages, this program celebrates the 250th of America's founding! Families, friends, and art lovers alike are invited to gather on the F Street sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery for some colorful summer fun.
Enjoy interactive chalk games, create your own chalk portraits, and soak in the lively atmosphere alongside special guest, the DowntownDC BID.
Afterward, join us in the museum for more chalk fun and Smithsonian American Art's Take 5: Jazz at SAAM concert series!
Event Location: F Street. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chalk-the-block-with-ground-shift-studio-tickets-1988765556315. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Spotlight Talk: Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean
Gallery Talks & Tours
Catch a twenty-minute gallery talk about the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia in Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean. At nearly twenty feet, this newly conserved sculpture depicts Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence. Delve into its original context in ancient Angkor and the present-day Cambodian community. Composite image: (top) Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta (Endless One); Cambodia, Siem Reap province, second half of 11th century; bronze, mercury gilding; National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh; Photograph by Mario Ciampi, ©️ Guicciardini & Magni Architetti / (bottom) Still from the short film Awkun; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Film by praCh Ly.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 22c. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Panel Discussion: "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art"
One-Time Events
Enjoy a panel discussion moderated by Risham Majeed and featuring curators Kevin Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, and artists Paul Emmanuel, Mikael Owunna, Tyna Abebowale, and Leilah Babirye whose work is featured in the exhibition Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art and the accompanying book.
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art is based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms. Through their art, they invite us into their worlds, and share complex stories of openly claiming their identities, their histories, and their place.
Image credit: Kevin Dumouchelle photo by Franko Khoury; Tyna Abebowale photo courtesy of artist; Leilah Babirye photo by AX Mina; Mikael Owunna photo by Ajamu X; Paul Emmanuel by Meg Clerc.
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Sylvia Williams Gallery (Sublevel 1). Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988929983120?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Paul Bailey (Solstice Edition)
One-Time Events
Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, part of a series of free, live performances. Jazz trumpeter Paul Bailey, a native of Washington, DC and graduate of Howard University, will perform a selection of works by Miles Davis to mark the late jazz icon’s 100th birthday.
This special extended edition of Take 5 is part of the Smithsonian’s multi-day Solstice Celebration with after-hours programming. Borrow a board game to play during the concert, stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase solstice-themed refreshments until 7:30 p.m. or explore SAAM’s special exhibition Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work during the extended hour. The National Portrait Gallery, that shares the building with SAAM, is hosting community chalk art activities by Ground Shift Studio for attendees to enjoy throughout the performance.
Presented as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 and Solstice.
Image credit: Photo by Matthew Bailey.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free | Registration encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3MS2M. Categories: After Five. Performances.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Black Music Month Celebration
One-Time Events
Please join us for a panel discussion focused on the business of Black radio, its impact on local and national communities, and the importance of preserving Black radio history with Sheila Brown, Owner and General Manager, WUFO/Black Radio History Collective, Jocelyn Robinson, Director, Radio Preservation & Archives at WYSO/HBCU Radio Preservation Project, and Bernie Hayes, Curator, Wolff Jazz Institute, Harris-Stowe State University, and Director, Black Radio Hall of Fame; moderated by Steven Lewis, Museum Curator of Music and Performing Arts, NMAAHC.
This event is a preview for the Black Music Month Radio Conference.
This event will be held offsite at the Mason O. Damon Auditorium, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203.
Event Location: Mason O. Damon Auditorium, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019d8d49-33a2-8220-cc42-10829bb49c7b?tg=019d8d49-33aa-3a2d-c6a5-6c90bd9cba25. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit tickets.si.edu. Sunlight Symphonies
All Programs
The reasons behind why the daytime sky is blue, what causes a rainbow, and the creation of a halo around the moon or sun all involve how sunlight interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere. J. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, introduces you to the score of atmospheric phenomena that you can see in a daytime sky, from sun pillars at dawn to the Belt of Venus at dusk.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sunlight-symphonies?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sunlight-symphonies?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Solstice Celebration
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Building on the annual Solstice Saturday event that marks the start of summer, this expanded three-day version features late-night hours, programs and performances at the Arts & Industries Building and across Smithsonian museums from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon.
Visit our Solstice Celebration page for details.
Event Location: Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026 – Sunday, June 21, 2026.
For more info visit www.si.edu. Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Anacostia Community Museum
Spotlight Programs
10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET (see event schedule for more details)
Celebrate freedom, culture, and community at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum’s Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, a full day honoring history, creativity, wellness, music, and tradition. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together as a community to reflect, celebrate freedom, preserve cultural traditions, and create joyful spaces rooted in connection, resilience, and collective healing. This family-friendly celebration invites guests of all ages to gather in joy and reflection.
Enjoy a full day of family-friendly programming, including:
• Everyday Herbalism & Modern-Day Pickling Workshop
• Rooted Recipes Interactive Recipe Exchange
• The Art of Roller Skating: “Style” Roller Skating as American Folk Art
• What’s Cracking: History and Culture of the Black Community and Shellfish
Main Stage entertainment featuring:
• Host: Sir Harvey Fitz
• DJ Heat
• Black Alley
• Chuck Brown Band
• Autumn LaBella
• Playback…
Categories: Performances. Demonstrations. Workshops. Lectures & Discussions. Kids & Families. Culinary Arts. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-freedom-celebration-tickets-1989219016627. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Washington, D.C.
Friday, June 19, 2026.
Anacostia Community Museum
Washington, D.C.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual
Spotlight Programs
8–10 p.m. CT
“Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual” is the renowned Silkroad Ensemble’s current touring program with artistic director Rhiannon Giddens, exploring how we can experience music to better understand our world, find comfort, process loss and a changing environment, and rebuild community based on our own humanity. Drawing from Italian tarantella, Congolese string music, Indian tabla, and American roots music, the ensemble offers a special Juneteenth program during this weekend on Tulsa’s Guthrie Green.
Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Event Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Friday, June 19, 2026.
Guthrie Green
Tulsa, OK.
For more info visit guthriegreeneventscalendar.eventcalendarapp.com. The Taste of Freedom: A Juneteenth Foodways Journey
“By the People” Events
4:30 p.m. CT
Join Donna Rae Pearson as she shares the story of Juneteenth from Emancipation to its modern celebration. The presentation explores Kansas’s African American history of celebrating freedom with “Emancipation Day” celebrations in communities across the state long before Juneteenth became a national holiday. Audience members will explore the holiday’s key symbols and discuss its modern expression in large community events and communal meals that echo the spirit of Black family reunions. As Pearson shares stories about popular food traditions associated with the holiday, audience members will have the opportunity to enjoy a “celebration red drink.”.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Culinary Arts. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Event Location: Newton, Kansas.
Friday, June 19, 2026.
Newton Public Library
Newton, KS.
For more info visit www.humanitieskansas.org. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Smithsonian Solstice Weekend
One time events
Free; no registration required.
Friday | June 19 | 10 AM–11 PM, Saturday | June 20 | 10 AM–11 PM
Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer with Solstice Weekend, with museums across the National Mall staying open late until 11 pm.
The Hirshhorn Museum will keep the following exhibitions open during extended hours:Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960, Step inside Laurie Anderson’s immersive gallery; take in a conversation (across time and space) between Jean-Michel Basquiat and street artist Banksy; and catch the larger than life installations in Big Things for Big Rooms.
Need a moment to soak it all in? Take a break and treat yourself to other late-night perks: pick up the perfect souvenir at the Museum Shop or refresh with drinks (for purchase) at Dolcezza Café.
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Hirshhorn Museum. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. After Five. Related Exhibition: Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Story Time: Delivering Democracy
One-Time Events
Join us for a special Civic Season Story Time designed for learners of all ages to explore the power of the mail in shaping civic life. Children, caregivers, and community members will read, reflect, and discover together as we look closely at objects in the museum galleries and share stories about community participation.
Activities will be available at 10am in the Museum lobby. The facilitated program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby.
Participants will have the opportunity to write advocacy postcards, engage in hands-on play, and consider how communication through the mail has connected individuals to their government and to one another throughout history.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Museum Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Due to inclement weather, Wonderplace will open at 12 noon on Friday, January 19, pending staff availability. We will update this entry if the operating status for Wonderplace changes. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis.At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Big Objects, Big Stories: Red Cadillac Eldorado owned by Chuck Berry
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join us for a docent-led tour to get a fresh look into the Museum's featured object. At each of these 15-minute talks visitors will hear incredibly big stories about a big object.
About this Program: All hail the King of Rock 'n' Roll! When musical legend Chuck Berry made rock 'n' roll history, he didn't rely on agents or record labels; he drove himself to his own business. Let’s take a walking cruise around this object and explore how Berry became one of the first artists to break musical color barriers.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets at the Red Cadillac Eldorado, Musical Crossroads, L4. Talks take place at: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM,1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Musical Crossroads.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Juneteenth Trunk Show
One-Time Events
Shop with us at the NMAAHC Museum Store’s Trunk Show. Meet and greet local DMV vendors and artisans, courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises. The Trunk Show will take place in Heritage Hall on Friday, June 19 from 10AM – 5PM.
Featured vendors include: Barlows Foods We Dream in Colour Sister Source, Carole Boston Weatherford SELF Incense Harm's Charms blackNugly Best Life Organics Timed-entry passes are required to enter the museum. For more details visit our Museum Store Webpage.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Heritage Hall. Cost: Free to attend. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit nmaahc.si.edu. Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Explore the past and present of Smithsonian Gardens and American gardening in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue for a tour of this iconic space.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Garden Break
Smithsonian Gardens
Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults.
Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations.
And be sure to check out the new Growing Tomorrow exhibition and discover how gardens can evoke memories.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: East Terrace of the Enid A. Haupt Garden, with additional activities throughout the garden. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
¡Puro Ritmo! Summer Solstice Celebration
American Latino Museum
Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.
Inspired by ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, this two-day program invites visitors to explore the rhythms, stories, and cultural connections that shaped salsa and its place in American music. Through hands-on activities, gallery tours, music, storytelling, dance, percussion, and karaoke, visitors can experience salsa as a living expression of migration, identity, innovation, and community.
Activities take place in and around the Molina Family Latino Gallery and the General Motors Learning Lounge throughout the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration weekend. The program includes learning carts, a salsa dance workshop, guided tours of ¡Puro Ritmo! storytime, percussion circles, karaoke, and ongoing hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.
This program is presented by the National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
Alfombra Installation with Ubaldo Sánchez
Folklife Marketplace
Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Working on the flat surface of the tile floor, Sánchez creates an alfombra (carpet) out of carefully layered sawdust, florals, and other materials. He, along with his assistants, provides interpretation and insight for visitors, sharing the significance of the sawdust carpet as they demonstrate this unique artistic tradition.
From a family of artists from Concepcion Chiquirichapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, he explores the rich art and culture of the Maya of Guatemala here in the United States through his artwork. His work also includes sculpture, painted pottery and gourds, murals, silk-screen printing, and painting.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Folklife Marketplace Open Hours
Folklife Marketplace
Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Radio Corner: ART FM / WXOX
Folklife Marketplace
Come hang out with the DJs of ART FM / WXOX 97.1 based in Louisville, Kentucky, and connect as they broadcast interviews, conversations, and music live from the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall.
ART FM provides a space for expression and a frequency for experimentation. Live 24/7/365 on WXOX 97.1 FM in Louisville and on artxfm.com worldwide, this community radio station is dedicated to providing artists and community members with access to the airwaves for free and creative use.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit www.artxfm.com. Everyday Herbalism and Modern-Day Pickling
Juneteenth
Explore the cultural significance of herbs and preserve traditions in this hands-on workshop with Derek Thomas and Madea Allen of Organic Soul Chef Community Garden. Participants will learn about the role of herbalism and tinctures in the African American experience, examine the rise of fresh pickling compared to traditional methods, and gain practical skills by creating herb-infused vinegars, making tinctures, and pickling fresh vegetables to take home.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Community Garden). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Main Stage Performances
Juneteenth
Host for the Day, Sir Harvey Fitz—Washington, D.C.-area “curator of cultural awesomeness” and a multifaceted creative artist, including roles as a poet, photographer, and producer
12–1 p.m. and between bands, DJ Heat—Washington, D.C.-based DJ and official arena DJ for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and the DC Defenders
1–1:50 p.m. Playback Theater—Interactive performances with a full cast of professional actors, musicians, and storytellers
2–3 p.m. Black Alley Band—Prominent Washington, D.C.-based band known for pioneering “hood rock” or “soul garage”—a unique fusion of go-go, trap, rock, funk, and soul, led by vocalist Kacey Williams
3:30–4:10 p.m. Autumn LaBella—A music producer, percussionist, vocalist and emcee who oozes warm melodies
4:30–5:30 p.m. IDK with Critical Condition Band—IDK (an acronym for “Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge”) is a rapper, singer, and producer based in Maryland, known for conceptual projects, personal storytelling, and a conscious rapping style…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Main Stage). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Rooted Recipes
Juneteenth
Celebrate the rich tapestry of culinary heritage in this interactive recipe exchange. Participants are invited to leave a recipe and take a recipe, sharing personal or family dishes that carry cultural significance and stories of resilience, migration, and tradition. Through storytelling, conversation, and communal reflection, explore how food preserves history, connects generations, and shape's identity. Come honor your roots and walk away with new flavors and stories to pass down. Grab recipes from Smithsonian staff members and Juneteenth talent.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Plaza). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. The Art of Roller Skating: “Style” Roller Skating as American Folk Art
Juneteenth
The art of roller skating positions Black roller skating as a vibrant American folk art tradition, deeply rooted in regional innovation and intergenerational kinship networks. This session draws from the National African American Roller Skate Archive to present a compelling mix of historical research, archival images, cultural analysis, and short-form documentary footage. Central to the presentation is “Style,” a tempo-based genre of roller skating created and sustained by Black skaters across distinct regional communities. Tasha Klusmann, founder of the National African American Roller Skate Archive, moderates the conversation.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Big Moments, Little Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the power of storytelling and community through our early learners storytime experience inspired by We Make History! Through engaging stories, interactive gallery moments, and hands-on activities, children and caregivers will explore how everyday people, neighborhoods, and changemakers shape history in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Together, young learners will build curiosity and creativity.
Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years
Time and Schedule: 10: 30 a.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-tickets-1990727334045?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. DC | Hands On: Quillwork Designs
One-Time Events
Indigenous peoples of the Americas have long decorated clothing and objects with porcupine quills as expressions of care, respect, and love. Quillwork is a skillful artistic tradition that has been shared across generations. Young visitors and their families are invited to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center to learn about how quills have been used in this art form and to explore quillwork‑inspired designs using colorful, contemporary materials inspired by objects in the National Museum of the American Indian collection. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Tour | Art & Architecture
Gallery Talks & Tours
Explore the architecture of the National Mall’s first art museum on this tour of the National Museum of Asian Art's Freer Gallery. Look closely at the West Building’s plaza, lobby, and inner courtyard while discovering the Italian architectural influences and design details of this US National Historic Landmark designed by the famed turn-of-the-century architect Charles Platt.
Please meet at the West Building plaza for the tour. During rainy weather, meet at the West Building information desk. Image credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Plaza. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Juneteenth Community Day: Honoring Opal Lee and Celebrating 100 Years
One-Time Events
Join us for a joyful Juneteenth Community Day honoring the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Ms. Opal Lee—affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”—as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. This daylong celebration brings together generations through storytelling, food, music, and hands-on learning, centering community traditions and the ongoing meaning of freedom. Visitors of all ages are invited to gather, reflect, and celebrate Juneteenth through interactive programs inspired by Ms. Lee.
Program Highlights:NMAAHC Kids Juneteenth Story Time (11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Classroom, L2): Designed for children ages 3 to 8. Join us for a reading of Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth! by Tonya Abari, read by an engaging NMAAHC Kids educator! Then we’ll learn about the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal Lee, together and celebrate freedom with a colorful art project. Juneteenth Soundstage (11:00 AM & 3:00 PM, Heritage Hall, L1): Enjoy a lively lineup featuring a line dancing workshop with The DMV City…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Various Locations. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019d96cf-0232-e743-f7cf-c5030f8c4e1c?tg=019d96cf-0239-d200-491c-c80a41a5b1cf. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Workshops. Performances. Culinary Arts. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Pollinator Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Introduction to Bookbinding: The Sewn Softcover Book
Folklife Marketplace
Explore the art and structure of the handmade book in this introductory workshop with local creative Amaal Younes. Participants are introduced to the history of bookbinding, basic terminology, tools, materials, and the techniques of creating a softcover exposed spine book, one of the oldest binding techniques. This workshop invites participants into bookbinding as both skill and slow practice—an encounter with paper, thread, and the handmade book as a vessel for memory and making.
Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Bison: The National Mammal at the National Museum
For the Common Good
What animal weighs up to a ton, can measure six feet tall, can jump over a fence over six feet high, and likes to wallow in the dust? Bison!
The bison, or American buffalo, was designated as the U.S. National Mammal in 2016. From its earliest days, the Smithsonian has helped lead the efforts to conserve the bison and celebrate its relationship with our nation’s people, cultures, history, and lands. We carry on these efforts to this day. From cultural objects inspired by the buffalo at the National Museum of the American Indian to conservation efforts of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the National Museum of Natural History’s recent installation of magnificent bronze bison sculptures on the National Mall and opening its Bison: Standing Strong exhibition, research and interpretation of our national mammal cuts across genres, disciplines, and historical eras.
Join Kirk Johnson, Sant director of the National Museum of Natural History; Emil Her Many Horses, curator at the National Museum of…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/btFcroD5GUc?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM.
Tours | Arts of China
Gallery Talks & Tours
Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics.
Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Workshops
Register to join the sessions.
Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections.
All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Katsushika Hokusai / National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.269.
Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/ymJH4SNfSjKwSlHROFxfyw. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/ymJH4SNfSjKwSlHROFxfyw. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
What’s Cracking: History and Culture of the Black Community and Shellfish
Juneteenth
Explore the deep-rooted connection between Black communities and the shellfish culture of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. This fireside chat dives into the untold history of how African Americans shaped the shellfish industry while working the waterways, innovating culinary techniques, and turning the blue crab and oyster into a beloved symbol of celebration and regional pride. Through storytelling, historical context and food tradition, this talk highlights the economic, cultural, and social impacts of shellfish in Black history and how it continues to influence cuisine today. Speakers: Ricardo Brannum, owner, Who Wants Smoke Charbroiled Oyster Imani Black, founder, Minorities in Aquaculture Adrian Miller, James Beard Award-winning author (moderator).
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Curator Tour: InSight
One-Time Events
Curated by the museum’s archivists, InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives features images from the Archives Center at the National Museum of the American Indian. The photos were selected from more than a half million images stewarded by the museum. They give an intimate view of Indigenous lives across the Western Hemisphere and across time. They show everyday moments of joy and quiet reflection. In these images, people attend social gatherings, pose for family photos, and learn from relatives. Each photo has a story to tell. It is the rich insight shared by Native people that brings these stories to life. Join a guided tour of the exhibition to learn more.
Image: Eva Curtis (Iñupiaq) and Sadie Vestal (Iñupiaq) picking wildflowers, Kotzebue, Alaska, June 23, 1951. Lindell and Ethel Bagley Alaska collection. 379_001.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 2, exhibition gallery (between elevator bank and Roanoke Museum Store). Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Permanent Collection Tour
Gallery Talks & Tours
The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and Mary Livingston Ripley Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Find moments of peace and inspiration during this tour of the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Jefferson Drive, SW entrance to the Arts and Industries Building.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Tour begins outside the Jefferson Drive entrance to the Arts and Industries Building. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Radio Corner: Community Amplification Workshop with ART FM
Folklife Marketplace
Enter the ART FM radio emporium and leave your sonic fingerprint on a historic radio broadcast live from the National Mall! Experiment with FM micro transmissions and send out international signals using the power of the World Wide Web. With a cast of WXOX DJs, learn creative ways to deliver wireless messages that have impact and influence on the listening community. Get acquainted with recording technology—old and new—to and create your own audio segment around the theme “Remembering Together” for the Smithsonian Folklife Radio Corner.
Then, tell your friends and fans to tune in as your radio production is amplified on WXOX 97.1 FM in Louisville, Kentucky, and worldwide on artxfm.com. Together visitors will create a new kind of radio broadcast that is truly of, by, and for the people.
No registration is required for this workshop. Feel free to drop in anytime.
Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
In Person.
For more info visit www.artxfm.com. Growing Tomorrow: Developing a Mall-Wide Garden Exhibition
For the Common Good
Are you curious about foraging for food, or would you like to have fun with fungi? Check out the new Smithsonian Gardens exhibition, Growing Tomorrow, featuring nine individual exhibits throughout the gardens around the National Mall. The exhibition explores the common bonds we share with gardens and the natural world while highlighting ways that we can grow a better future.
Join Smithsonian Gardens staff Rebbeca Martin, associate director of collections, programs, and engagement; Virginia Thaxton, interior horticulturist; and Lauren Brandes, landscape architect, along with Smithsonian Folklife Festival technical director Tyler Nelson to explore the process of Growing Tomorrow, focusing on understanding the full scope of planning an exhibition spanning the National Mall—from early concepts to coordination with stakeholders and logistical constraints.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/MWnYYpYw7k4?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Imagination Station
Juneteenth
Enjoy facepainting and airbrushed tattoos for the youth and those young at heart.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Indepen'Dance
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
We’ve partnered with local organizations and artists to bring you two days of live music, hands-on activities, film screenings, dance classes, and more. Learn how to “beat ya feet” to a live go-go band with The Go-Go Museum, dance on over to the National Museum of the American Latino's Molina Family Latino Gallery for salsa inspired activities and instruction or learn about a DC style of swing with the National Hand Dance Association.
Hear kid-friendly stories with the DC Public Library, the Scott Silbert Big Band on our Terrace, and DJ sets throughout the museum. See the 1988 cult classic film/musical Hairspray in our Warner Bros. Theater as part of the History Film Forum, join in on live pop-up theater performances…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-tickets-1990785919275?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Films. Performances. Workshops. Related Events: DCPL Storytime, History Film Forum. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Hands On: Quillwork Designs
One-Time Events
Indigenous peoples of the Americas have long decorated clothing and objects with porcupine quills as expressions of care, respect, and love. Quillwork is a skillful artistic tradition that has been shared across generations. Young visitors and their families are invited to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center to learn about how quills have been used in this art form and to explore quillwork‑inspired designs using colorful, contemporary materials inspired by objects in the National Museum of the American Indian collection. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly volunteer at the Information Desk for a 45 minute tour of the highlights of the museum.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Starts at the Information Desk in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Tours | Arts Across Asia
Gallery Talks & Tours
Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan.
Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
“We Hold These Truths” with Smithsonian Folklife
Juneteenth
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Tour | The Peacock Room at 150
Gallery Talks & Tours
Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Spotlight Talk: Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean
Gallery Talks & Tours
Catch a twenty-minute gallery talk about the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia in Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean. At nearly twenty feet, this newly conserved sculpture depicts Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence. Delve into its original context in ancient Angkor and the present-day Cambodian community. Composite image: (top) Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta (Endless One); Cambodia, Siem Reap province, second half of 11th century; bronze, mercury gilding; National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh; Photograph by Mario Ciampi, ©️ Guicciardini & Magni Architetti / (bottom) Still from the short film Awkun; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Film by praCh Ly.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 22c. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM.
Castle Docent Tours
Ongoing Tours
Join us for an outdoor tour of the first two buildings in the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building! Meet one of our volunteer docents by the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW.
Tours subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions; last-minute cancellations may occur. Inquire at the Castle information desk. No registration is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: The tour begins at the sign outside of the north doors of the Castle, on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk up). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Audio-Described Highlights Tour
Folklife Marketplace
This tour, designed for those who are blind or low-vision, will feature sighted guide assistance and verbal description of the Storied Objects exhibition, the stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building, and the site-specific installation by artist in residence Ubaldo A. Sánchez as he creates an alfombra (carpet) out of carefully layered sawdust, florals, and other materials. Additionally, sighted guide assistance will be available for those visitors who wish to visit the pop-up Folklife Marketplace, featuring artists from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community.
Traditional sighted-guide assistance (hand resting on the guide’s elbow) will be available, although the describer can also offer spoken navigation and orientation guidance if preferred. For more information or to pre-register, please call 202-633-7488 or email folklife@si.edu. Walk-up space is available, but pre-registration is encouraged. Please meet 10 minutes before the tour…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Audio description. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Indepen'Dance: Beat Ya Feet Dance workshop and go-go performance by Next Gen Krank
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Beat Ya Feet Dance workshop and go-go performance by Next Gen Krank, 4:00 p.m. workshop; 5:00–7:00 p.m. performance
Coulter Performance Plaza
We’re partnering with The Go-Go Museum to teach you how to Beat Ya Feet! This high-energy, footwork-driven dance form, developed in Southeast DC in the 1990s by Marvin “Slush” Taylor, is grounded in the rhythm of go-go music and inspired by its energy. Learn some steps and practice your moves with a performance by up-and-coming band Next Gen Krank.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Coulter Performance Plaza (1 west). Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-beat-ya-feat-workshop-and-go-go-performance-tickets-1990798051563?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Indepen'Dance: Civic Season Lounge
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Civic Season Lounge, 5:00–10:00 p.m.
2 East, We’ve collaborated with Made by Us for Civic Season ’26 to create the Civic Season Lounge, featuring a drinks bar, seating, and activities—including Wish Wall writing stations where you can share your wish for the future of the United States. The space invites reflection, conversation, and imagination about the country’s future, encouraging the public to think about the next 10, 50, or 100 years. Can’t make it in person? Share your wish by email: Whatsyourwish?@si.edu.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance celebrates the nation’s history…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square (2 West). Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-civic-season-lounge-tickets-1990792270271?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Alfombra Installation with Ubaldo Sánchez
Folklife Marketplace
Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Working on the flat surface of the tile floor, Sánchez creates an alfombra (carpet) out of carefully layered sawdust, florals, and other materials. He, along with his assistants, provides interpretation and insight for visitors, sharing the significance of the sawdust carpet as they demonstrate this unique artistic tradition.
From a family of artists from Concepcion Chiquirichapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, he explores the rich art and culture of the Maya of Guatemala here in the United States through his artwork. His work also includes sculpture, painted pottery and gourds, murals, silk-screen printing, and painting.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Papel Picado Drop-in Workshop with David Amoroso
Folklife Marketplace
Drop in to learn about the Mexican tradition of papel picado with local artist David Amoroso. Transform a flat piece of paper into a colorful miniature strand of intricately cut paper. Children and adults can work side by side on their own projects.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution!
One-Time Events
Step back to 1776 in stunning VR! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Solstice Late Hours at the Castle
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Smithsonian Castle is staying open until 11:00 pm. This is a rare chance to experience the historic building after-hours.
The special exhibition, American Aspirations, co-curated by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, is on view until 9 pm.
Cafe and shop hours:
Castle Café Summer Shack 250: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bar: 5:00 – 10:30 pm. Enjoy after-hours bar service with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours.
The Castle Store: Friday, June 19: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm; Saturday, June 20: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560
Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: Celebrations. After Five.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Friday
One-Time Events
In celebration of Smithsonian Solstice weekend and the 250th anniversary of the United States, the National Museum of Natural History is staying open until 11:00 pm with special programming from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Grab your self-guided scavenger hunt and make your own postcard with Find Your Place, a new museum-wide project highlighting objects in our permanent exhibits from all U.S. states and territories.
After you complete the scavenger hunt, find our friends at the National Postal Museum table and claim your prize while supplies last.
Check out the Find Your Place Museum Map and more info about the project here. Enjoy music in the Rotunda (first floor) from DJ Clamazon, Explore all the Museum’s galleries until 11pm, including the two newest exhibits, Bison: Standing Strong and From These Lands on the second floor.
Museum cafés and shops hours:
Atrium Café (ground floor): 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Grill only from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm with Grill and beer specials)
Ocean Terrace Café (first floor): 11:00…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (10th Street & Constitution Ave, NW). Cost: Free and open to the public. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/33909482/nmnh-solstice-late-night-hoursfriday-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Arts and Industries Building is staying open until 11:00 p m. with special programming:The Voices and Votes traveling exhibition, The Folklife Marketplace (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 10 am – 8 pm), The conversation series For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250 (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm), After-hours bar service (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 – 10:30 pm) with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours, Jazz performances on the Folklife Stage: Friday, June 19:
6 – 8 pm: The Kenny Rittenhouse Trio
8:30 – 10:30 pm: Grant Langford
Saturday, June 20:
6 – 8 pm: Freeform The Collective
8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Club of DC
Photobooth provided by Photos Enforced Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: After Five. Celebrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. Open Late for Solstice
National Air and Space Museum
Celebrate 250 years under the sun with the Smithsonian after hours!
The National Air and Space Museum in DC will be open late on Friday, June 19, as part of the Smithsonian's Solstice celebration. Visitors can explore the Museum's galleries from 6 to 11 pm. Free passes are required.
Please note that additional programming will not be available on June 19. Looking for a Solstice event with special activities? Check out our Sally's Night event on Saturday, June 20.
The following Museum amenities will be available on June 19:Mars Café will be open from 6 to 7 pm, Museum Stores will be open from 6 to 11 pm, Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater will have a screening of Toy Story 5 (fees apply).
Categories: After Five. Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: National Air and Space Museum. Cost: Free, passes required. Passes will be available starting June 2 at noon ET. Get Tickets/Register: https://airandspace.si.edu/whats-on/events/open-late-solstice.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. DC | Amy Hānaialiʻi in Concert
One-Time Events
Vocalist and songwriter Amy Hānaialiʻi has been sharing her powerful voice from an early age. Her grandmother Jennie Napua Woodd, encouraged her to pursue ha‘i, often translated as “catch” or “break” a Hawaiian vocal tradition of falsetto singing. Hānaialiʻi is known for reviving ha‘i, through her prolific recording career and sold-out performances around the world.
Her success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by a multitude of awards and acknowledgements, including 6 GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album & Best Native Roots Music Album. Amy is Native Hawaiian, Ojibwe, and of Norwegian and European English descent. Her talent emerges from disciplined classical training, fused powerhouse vocals, and honoring her family’s worldly heritage and rooted ancestral responsibility. Amy is a soul singer and sings in many different genres. Amy’s albums have garnered 18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards – Hawai’i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY® awards. On June 12, Hānaialiʻi will be inducted into…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Garden Nights
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a bouquet of special garden activities. Take a closer look at the amazing plants on the tropical terrace. Check out nighttime pollinators and don a pair of moth or butterfly wings for a photo op in the garden! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow exhibition to explore how American gardens have evolved throughout our nation’s history.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Discoteca del Sol: An Indepen’DANCE Evening Program
American Latino Museum
Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration after dark with Discoteca del Sol, a special evening program presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.
Part of the National Museum of American History’s Indepen’DANCE! celebration, Discoteca del Sol brings together live music, DJ sets, and outdoor summer energy for an evening inspired by the sounds of salsa dura and 1970s orchestral disco. Featuring DJ Adrian Collazo and Orquesta Manplesa, the program explores how Caribbean rhythms, Latin dance music, and disco converged to define the sound of an era.
Held on the Madison Avenue Terrace, this free evening event invites visitors to dance, listen, gather, and experience the musical connections that continue to shape American culture. Discoteca del Sol also extends the themes of the National Museum of the American Latino’s exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, which traces salsa’s roots, rhythms, migrations, and lasting…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Madison Ave. Terrace. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances. Related Events: Indepen'DANCE. Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Late Skate with DJ B Sharp
Juneteenth
Glide into the night at the Juneteenth Late Skate! After the Main Stage winds down, the celebration keeps rolling with a high-energy skating experience in the parking lot. Under the evening sky, DJ B Sharp spins the perfect soundtrack for a vibrant, feel-good vibe.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. These Truths: My Community, Our Story
Juneteenth
Local poets Khadijah Ali-Coleman, Colie Aziza, and Dwayne Lawson Brown explore themes of placemaking and community identity, and the role of gatherings, such as Juneteenth, in people’s lives. Co-presented with Planet Word.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth
One-Time Events
Snap a solstice selfie with Ande the Llama! Pose with our giant plush llama and add some flair with fun photo props provided by museum staff. A great stop for laughs and memorable photos.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
DC | Glow & Create: Sling Braided Keychains
One-Time Events
The Quechua people celebrate their culture through daily life—wearing beautiful textiles, sharing music, and gathering for lively festivals that honor the sun and the seasons. In this hands‑on activity, participants will explore the idea of traditional sling braiding by creating their own glowing keychain using bright, glow‑in‑the‑dark yarn. It’s a fun way to learn how weaving and braiding can tell stories and bring people together—all with a little extra sparkle!
*Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
Hidden Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Let the Haupt Garden surprise and delight you during this tour of out-of-the-way areas. Your expert garden guide will introduce you to the garden’s people, plants, and stories. Meet at the tour sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Enid A. Haupt Garden tour begins just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM.