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CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM.
CANCELED - American Experiments
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Unity Square is home to American Experiments, a set of activities that invite you to explore, play, and connect with the people around you. Five experiments bring to life the themes of the surrounding exhibitions—participation, commitment, negotiation, voting, protest, and pluralism. You’ll reflect on the history of the nation we build together and consider your own role in creating the nation of tomorrow.
“American Experiments” was developed by the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the Exploratorium of San Francisco, and was made possible by a gift from the Julie and Greg Flynn Family Fund.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Audio Tours canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Put on a head set and immerse yourself into the highlights of the museum’s exhibits. Our curators and other experts will guide you through the museum. There is a tour for everyone in your family, from the youngest preschooler to your tween and all adults. The adult tour is available in Mandarin and Spanish. There is also a tour that focuses on our Democracy, A Great Leap of Faith and Many Voices, One Nation exhibits. The tours make it easy to navigate the museum and assure that you’ll see the best of what we have to offer. The interactive activities, videos and extra information make them fun, too.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 and 2 Center. Cost: Admission
$7.00 each or $6.00 if you buy more than one.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Ride Simulators canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (ride approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of four simulators. Experience the thrill of careening through an action-packed roller-coaster course or racing in futuristic high-speed hovercars.
Choose your adventure: Cosmic Race , Bermuda Triangle , Solar Coaster , Grand Prix Raceway , Astro Canyon , Glacier Run. Note: Simulator accommodates up to 8 people per ride. Children must be 42 inches tall unless riding with an adult.
Open the same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Simulator Gallery, Lower Level. Cost: Tickets always available for purchase at the entrance to the simulator gallery and may also be available at either Welcome desk.
Admission Per Ride
- $7.00 per person
Payment Options:
- Cash, VISA, and MasterCard.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - 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.
Spark!Lab activities are designed around common themes that connect to National Museum of American History collections and exhibitions. Themes are developed broadly to incorporate a wide range of collections and will change on a regular basis, ensuring that regular visitors have something new to explore.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELED - 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.
Weekdays
On weekdays, admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. There may be a brief wait to enter during busy times.
Weekends and Federal Holidays
On weekends and federal holidays, 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 is at 3:30 p.m.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
CANCELED - Flight Simulators: SpaceWalk or Wings (throughout the day)
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of three ride simulators. Choose your adventure: Take a 3-D journey aboard the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station or experience the thrill of a flight in both vintage and jet-age aircraft. Note: Ride Simulators accommodate up to 8 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 42 inches tall unless accompanied by an adult.
, Interactive Flight Simulators: (approximately 6 min.)
Try to become a jet combat "ace" -- in one of two F-4 Phantom II interactive flight simulators -- as you pilot your aircraft into 360-degree barrel rolls. Choose either pilot or gunner responsibilities. Note: Interactive Flight Simulators accommodates 1 to 2 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 48 inches tall.
Year-Round: , Daily: Open same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Main Level, near the simulators. Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or at the Simulator Gallery.
Admission Per Ride:
- Ride Simulator: $8.00 per person
- Interactive Flight Simulator: $10.00 per person
- Add a Simulator: $1.00 off with the purchase of an IMAX Theater ticket
- Groups: Discounts available; ask at the Box Office or at the Flight Simulators
- For reservations, call 202-633-4629 or 1-866-868-7774 (toll-free)
Payment Options:
- At Simulator: Cash, VISA, or MasterCard
- At Box Office: Cash or major…
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Native people were the original innovators of the Americas: that is the powerful message of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center.
In this family-friendly, interactive space, visitors of all ages will explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world. This exploration is made even more fun by solving puzzles, performing experiments, and playing state-of-the-art computer simulations.
For more information, visit http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/imagiNATIONS/
Group reservations are required, please contact: nmai-ny-education@si.edu or 212-514-3705.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
CLOSED - Butterfly Pavilion
Ongoing Tours & Activities
All Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. including the National Zoo, and in New York City are temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis.
Take a stroll among live butterflies and exotic plants! Located adjacent to Partners in Evolution, this tropical oasis offers visitors a rare opportunity to get close to a variety of living butterflies from all over the world.
Regular Hours: Daily: 10:15 AM-5:30 PM; last timed ticket at 5 PM.
(Photo by Rosa Pineda, Smithsonian.).
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Adults (13-59): $7.50 , Seniors (60+): $7 , Children (2 to 12): $6.50 , Tuesdays: Free Timed entry tickets are required for the Butterfly Pavilion, including Free Tuesdays. Tuesday tickets are available only onsite at the Butterfly Ticket Desk. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:15 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM.
CANCELED - Live Tarantula Feedings
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Volunteers conduct live tarantula feeding demonstrations and answer questions about the many-legged creatures that live in the Insect Zoo.
Year-Round: Mon. - Fri.: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM , Sat. and Sun.: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM
Note
- Demonstrations offered unless otherwise posted. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, West, O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:30 AM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Interactive Carts
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Activities include operating a cotton gin, peeking through a stereoscope, experiencing what it felt like to wear a corset, using a press to print a card, and copying a letter the way Jefferson did.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Please note:
Activity subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Spotlight Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
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.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Notes:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CANCELED - In Focus
Tours
Do you want to learn about an intriguing object or a favorite work of art in our collections? Join a museum guide for an in-depth exploration (20 to 30 minutes) of one exceptional work. A different piece is featured every day. Visit the In Focus (click on link) calendar approximately ten days before the talk you wish to attend to see the featured works.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at Freer Visitor Services Desk at 11:30am | Meet at Sackler Visitor Services Desk at 12:30pm. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Live Chat: Future Transportation
One-Time Events
Tune in for a Facebook Live chat about future modes of transportation, featuring Nikhil Goel from Uber Elevate and Dr. Roger Connor, curator in the aeronautics department at the National Air and Space Museum.
Tune in on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page.
This live chat is part of our What's New in Aerospace program, made possible by Boeing.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Facebook Live. Webcast: http://facebook.com/airandspace. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
CANCELED - Renwick Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in lobby. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights of the National Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a Highlights tour of the National Portrait Gallery.
NOTE: Highlights tours will occur at the following times:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m. Tours are subject to cancellation or schedule changes.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meet in the F Street lobby. Cost: Free: Walk--in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
CANCELED - Walk- In Tour: Art across Cultures: Freer
Tours
Discover outstanding works of art from throughout Asia in an hour-long, docent-led tour through the Freer. Explore art from varied time periods, countries, and cultures.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM.
Workshop: Meditation and Mindfulness
Workshops
Meditation helps us build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. To contribute to a sense of calm in this uncertain time, we are offering free 30-minute online meditations four times each week led by DC-based meditation teachers, starting Monday, March 23. These free sessions are appropriate for all levels of practitioners. All are welcome! No previous experience is required.
Join the sessions here: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016
Mondays and Fridays from 12:15 to 12:45 pm, meditation led by Aparna Sadananda
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45pm, meditation led by Philip Bender.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Workshops. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Webcast: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit zoom.us. CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
In celebration of Women’s History Month, walk-in tours at the Smithsonian American Art Museum will highlight a work by or about American women.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
Easy PZ with the Smithsonian: How to Engage Your Students with Project Zero Thinking Routines
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Easy-to-use approaches to improve student thinking. Facilitator: Phoebe Hillemann, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online. Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y2z3kBil8k. Cost: FREE.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit www.youtube.com. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Welcome Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CANCELED - Spontaneous Performance
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Infinity of Nations Exhibition Tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Join a Museum Ambassador for a 45-60 minute tour of Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Lectures & Discussions. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
CANCELED - Performance by Dennis Zotigh
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Gallery Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Each weekday afternoon at 1:30, a Cultural Interpreter provides visitors with background on the history, architecture, and work of the museum, and gives a guided tour of one of the major exhibitions—Americans, Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations, or The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire.
Gain deeper insights into both the museum's mission and the subject of the featured exhibition, have your questions answered, and share the experience of the museum with other interested visitors.
Photo: Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and the American Indian Nations. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for museum).
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
In celebration of Women’s History Month, walk-in tours at the Smithsonian American Art Museum will highlight a work by or about American women.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Docent's Choice Tour of the Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of one of the following: highlights of the museum, the America's Presidents exhibition, or one of the special exhibitions currently on view.
Tours generally occur:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meets in F Street lobby. Cost: Free.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
CANCELED - Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House Tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Join a Museum Ambassador for a 45-minute in-depth look at the unique architecture and design of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, home of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Lectures & Discussions. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
CANCELED - Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. (CANCELED)Tour: Three/Thirty
Ongoing Activities
Join us at 3:30 PM for THREE/THIRTY for a unique guided tour that explores three artworks in thirty minutes.
All tours are free and open to everyone. Joining is easy, just meet our Gallery Guides at the Welcome Desk in the Lobby. No reservations are necessary.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet at the information desk in the lobby. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM.
Film screening: Indigo
Resident Associate Program
Moroccan screenwriter and director Salma Bargach’s 2018 film Indigo tells the story of 13-year-old Nora, whose family life is shadowed by the cruelty of her brother Mehdi.
Categories: After Five. Event Location: , , . Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/248131?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Monday, March 30, 2020, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM.
CANCELED - Wonderplace - Special Holiday Hours
One-Time Events
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.
Weekdays
On weekdays, admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. There may be a brief wait to enter during busy times.
Weekends and Federal Holidays
On some weekends and federal holidays, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time on an as needed basis.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
CANCELED - American Experiments
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Unity Square is home to American Experiments, a set of activities that invite you to explore, play, and connect with the people around you. Five experiments bring to life the themes of the surrounding exhibitions—participation, commitment, negotiation, voting, protest, and pluralism. You’ll reflect on the history of the nation we build together and consider your own role in creating the nation of tomorrow.
“American Experiments” was developed by the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the Exploratorium of San Francisco, and was made possible by a gift from the Julie and Greg Flynn Family Fund.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Audio Tours canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Put on a head set and immerse yourself into the highlights of the museum’s exhibits. Our curators and other experts will guide you through the museum. There is a tour for everyone in your family, from the youngest preschooler to your tween and all adults. The adult tour is available in Mandarin and Spanish. There is also a tour that focuses on our Democracy, A Great Leap of Faith and Many Voices, One Nation exhibits. The tours make it easy to navigate the museum and assure that you’ll see the best of what we have to offer. The interactive activities, videos and extra information make them fun, too.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 and 2 Center. Cost: Admission
$7.00 each or $6.00 if you buy more than one.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Ride Simulators canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (ride approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of four simulators. Experience the thrill of careening through an action-packed roller-coaster course or racing in futuristic high-speed hovercars.
Choose your adventure: Cosmic Race , Bermuda Triangle , Solar Coaster , Grand Prix Raceway , Astro Canyon , Glacier Run. Note: Simulator accommodates up to 8 people per ride. Children must be 42 inches tall unless riding with an adult.
Open the same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Simulator Gallery, Lower Level. Cost: Tickets always available for purchase at the entrance to the simulator gallery and may also be available at either Welcome desk.
Admission Per Ride
- $7.00 per person
Payment Options:
- Cash, VISA, and MasterCard.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Flight Simulators: SpaceWalk or Wings (throughout the day)
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of three ride simulators. Choose your adventure: Take a 3-D journey aboard the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station or experience the thrill of a flight in both vintage and jet-age aircraft. Note: Ride Simulators accommodate up to 8 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 42 inches tall unless accompanied by an adult.
, Interactive Flight Simulators: (approximately 6 min.)
Try to become a jet combat "ace" -- in one of two F-4 Phantom II interactive flight simulators -- as you pilot your aircraft into 360-degree barrel rolls. Choose either pilot or gunner responsibilities. Note: Interactive Flight Simulators accommodates 1 to 2 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 48 inches tall.
Year-Round: , Daily: Open same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Main Level, near the simulators. Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or at the Simulator Gallery.
Admission Per Ride:
- Ride Simulator: $8.00 per person
- Interactive Flight Simulator: $10.00 per person
- Add a Simulator: $1.00 off with the purchase of an IMAX Theater ticket
- Groups: Discounts available; ask at the Box Office or at the Flight Simulators
- For reservations, call 202-633-4629 or 1-866-868-7774 (toll-free)
Payment Options:
- At Simulator: Cash, VISA, or MasterCard
- At Box Office: Cash or major…
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
The interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences. Native peoples have always used the natural world around them to meet their needs, and today many of their innovations and inventions are part of daily life for millions worldwide. Visitors to the center can explore some of these ingenious adaptations through a variety of hands-on activities: Weave a giant basket to learn about the various styles of basketry. Explore different modes of transportation like snowshoes and skateboards. Sit inside a full-sized tipi. Learn about the buffalo. The homes where Native people lived are also designed for different environments. Visitors can find out how as they walk through an Amazonian stilt house, see what makes a Pueblo adobe house special ,or learn how a Comanche tipi is built. Be sure to stamp your imagiNATIONS…
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Native people were the original innovators of the Americas: that is the powerful message of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center.
In this family-friendly, interactive space, visitors of all ages will explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world. This exploration is made even more fun by solving puzzles, performing experiments, and playing state-of-the-art computer simulations.
For more information, visit http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/imagiNATIONS/
Group reservations are required, please contact: nmai-ny-education@si.edu or 212-514-3705.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
CLOSED - Butterfly Pavilion
Ongoing Tours & Activities
All Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. including the National Zoo, and in New York City are temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis.
Take a stroll among live butterflies and exotic plants! Located adjacent to Partners in Evolution, this tropical oasis offers visitors a rare opportunity to get close to a variety of living butterflies from all over the world.
Regular Hours: Daily: 10:15 AM-5:30 PM; last timed ticket at 5 PM. (Photo by Rosa Pineda, Smithsonian.).
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Adults (13-59): $7.50 , Seniors (60+): $7 , Children (2 to 12): $6.50 , Tuesdays: Free
Timed entry tickets are required for the Butterfly Pavilion, including Free Tuesdays. Tuesday tickets are available only onsite at the Butterfly Ticket Desk. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:15 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM.
CANCELED - Live Tarantula Feedings
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Volunteers conduct live tarantula feeding demonstrations and answer questions about the many-legged creatures that live in the Insect Zoo.
Year-Round: Mon. - Fri.: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM , Sat. and Sun.: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM
Note
- Demonstrations offered unless otherwise posted. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, West, O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:30 AM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Interactive Carts
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Activities include operating a cotton gin, peeking through a stereoscope, experiencing what it felt like to wear a corset, using a press to print a card, and copying a letter the way Jefferson did.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Please note:
Activity subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Spotlight Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
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.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Notes:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. In Focus
Tours
Do you want to learn about an intriguing object or a favorite work of art in our collections? Join a museum guide for an in-depth exploration (20 to 30 minutes) of one exceptional work. A different piece is featured every day. Visit the In Focus (click on link) calendar approximately ten days before the talk you wish to attend to see the featured works.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at Freer Visitor Services Desk at 11:30am | Meet at Sackler Visitor Services Desk at 12:30pm. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
CANCELED - Story Time in our Explore! Family Space
Ongoing Activities
Story time in our Explore! space immerses you in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes, and more! Before or after story time, enjoy our family space where you can play and learn about portraiture. 11:45am Tuesday-Sunday. All ages welcome. No reservation required.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Explore! space, first floor. Cost: Free. No registration required.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 11:45 AM.
For more info visit npg.si.edu. CANCELED - Renwick Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in lobby. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights of the National Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a Highlights tour of the National Portrait Gallery.
NOTE: Highlights tours will occur at the following times:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m. Tours are subject to cancellation or schedule changes.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meet in the F Street lobby. Cost: Free: Walk--in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Walk- In Tour: Art across Cultures: Freer
Tours
Discover outstanding works of art from throughout Asia in an hour-long, docent-led tour through the Freer. Explore art from varied time periods, countries, and cultures.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM.
Workshop: Meditation and Mindfulness
Workshops
Meditation helps us build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. To contribute to a sense of calm in this uncertain time, we are offering free 30-minute online meditations four times each week led by DC-based meditation teachers, starting Monday, March 23. These free sessions are appropriate for all levels of practitioners. All are welcome! No previous experience is required.
Join the sessions here: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016
Mondays and Fridays from 12:15 to 12:45 pm, meditation led by Aparna Sadananda
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45pm, meditation led by Philip Bender.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Workshops. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Webcast: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit zoom.us. CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
In celebration of Women’s History Month, walk-in tours at the Smithsonian American Art Museum will highlight a work by or about American women.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
Live Chat: Keeping You Safe When You Fly
One-Time Events
Tune in for a Facebook Live chat about aviation safety, featuring Tom Prevot from Uber Elevate and Paul Ceruzzi, curator emeritus in the space history department at the National Air and Space Museum. Join in on this conversation about how we will be keeping the skies safe as more and more aircraft are added to the skies and bring your questions.
Tune in on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page.
This live chat is part of our What's New in Aerospace program, made possible by Boeing.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Facebook Live. Webcast: http://facebook.com/airandspace. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Welcome Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CANCELED - Spontaneous Performance
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Performance by Dennis Zotigh
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Gallery Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Each weekday afternoon at 1:30, a Cultural Interpreter provides visitors with background on the history, architecture, and work of the museum, and gives a guided tour of one of the major exhibitions—Americans, Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations, or The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire.
Gain deeper insights into both the museum's mission and the subject of the featured exhibition, have your questions answered, and share the experience of the museum with other interested visitors.
Photo: Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and the American Indian Nations. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for museum).
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
In celebration of Women’s History Month, walk-in tours at the Smithsonian American Art Museum will highlight a work by or about American women.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Hearts of Our People Gallery Tour
Ongoing Tours
Join staff from the National Museum of the American Indian and explore the themes and topics presented in our special exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists.
Image credit: Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi), Nebula 22 & 23 (diptych), 2009, tapestry, wool warp, and dyed wool weft, Collection of Carl & Marilynn Thoma, 2009.021a-b. © 2009 Ramona L. Sakiestewa, courtesy of and photo by the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in lobby. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Culture Connections
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Objects and images tell profound stories. Join Cultural Interpreters as they share objects and narratives in our galleries. Gain a deeper understanding of history, culture, and art from hundreds of Indigenous nations in North, Central, and South America.
Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Second Floor Galleries. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
CANCELED - Stretching the Canvas exhibition tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
A 45-minute tour of Stretching the Canvas: Eight Decades of Native Painting. Drawing from the National Museum of the American Indian’s rich permanent collection, the exhibition presents nearly 40 paintings that transcend, represent or subvert conventional ideas of authenticity.
Image: Dick West (1912–1996, Southern Cheyenne), Spatial Whorl, 1949–1950. Oil on canvas. Gift of Dwight D. Saunders, 2004. (26/5102).
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: 2nd Floor, meet outside of East Gallery. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Stretching the Canvas: Eight Decades of Native Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Sketching: Draw and Discover
One-Time Events
Draw inspiration from the thousands of objects on view in the Luce Foundation Center, then create your own work of art. Each week, Luce Center staff presents a new challenge to fuel your creativity and encourage exploration of the Center. Stop by the information desk to hear the challenge, then strike out on your own to sketch the collection. Some materials are provided, but feel free to bring a small sketchbook and pencils. All levels welcome.
Categories: Workshops. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
(CANCELED) Gallery Experience: Sculpture Session
Ongoing Activities
The Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden offers visitors a contemplative haven sunken into the National Mall. The Plaza surrounding the Museum building offers space to exhibit more recent acquisitions. Together, these outdoor sites exhibit a wide variety of sculptures, ranging from the 1880s to today.
Join a Sculpture Session to explore the Hirshhorn’s outdoor exhibition spaces with a Gallery Guide. Dress for the weather. In inclement weather, the tour will look at sculptural works indoors. Meet in the Lobby.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet in Lobby. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. CANCELED - Docent's Choice Tour of the Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of one of the following: highlights of the museum, the America's Presidents exhibition, or one of the special exhibitions currently on view.
Tours generally occur:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meets in F Street lobby. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
CANCELED - Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House Tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Join a Museum Ambassador for a tour of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, home of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Tour highlights include a discussion of the history of the site, architect Cass Gilbert, viewing the Collectors office with Tiffany woodwork; Reginald Marsh murals; and the 140 ton Rotunda Dome by Raphael Gustavino.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. (CANCELED)Tour: Three/Thirty
Ongoing Activities
Join us at 3:30 PM for THREE/THIRTY for a unique guided tour that explores three artworks in thirty minutes.
All tours are free and open to everyone. Joining is easy, just meet our Gallery Guides at the Welcome Desk in the Lobby. No reservations are necessary.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet at the information desk in the lobby. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM.
Smithsonian Learning Lab Online Office Hours
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Have a burning question for the Learning Lab team? Need help finding a resource or using one of the Lab’s tools and features? Just want to say "hello"? Take a minute to tune in to our live Q&A. Drop by anytime between 4 and 5!
Host: Darren Milligan, Senior Digital Strategist.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online. Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qud0G6xBNGY. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit www.youtube.com. Twilight Tuesdays: Storing Your Good Stuff!
One-Time Events
PROGRAM POSTPONED
What is the best way to store your personal heirlooms? Join us to learn about a recent project to create state-of-the-art containers for over 1,000 objects in the Museum’s collection. Museum staff will describe the best materials, techniques and strategies to use for storing a variety of objects.
Bring your own cherished items! (limit of one to three items per person, please). Staff will provide advice on how to care for and store your personal belongings.
Program is presented in collaboration with the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC).
RSVP TO EVENTBRITE (link activated soon). In the interim you can register through this website.
Categories: After Five. Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Lectures & Discussions. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Extreme Weather and Climate: Adaptation in a Changing World
Resident Associate Program
Meeting the shock and awe of extreme floods, droughts, storms, and fires calls for plans and action—and authoritative scientific information. Roger S. Pulwarty, the senior scientist in the physical sciences division at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory, examines the significance and sources of that information as countries, communities, and businesses make critical decisions in response to changing weather and extreme climate trends.
Categories: After Five. Event Location: , , . Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/247011?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
Leadership in Crisis: Defining Moments of Modern Presidencies
Resident Associate Program
Leaders from Franklin Roosevelt to Donald Trump dealt with their defining moments in a variety of ways that forever changed our perceptions of them. As he surveys these responses, journalist Ken Walsh identifies what we have learned about presidential attributes and skills that matter most in trying times, and also takes a fresh look at President Trump through the prism of his crisis-filled administration.
Categories: After Five. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr SW, Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit). Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/247010?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM.
CANCELED - Drawn to Figures: John Singer Sargent
One-Time Events
These drawing workshops led by artist Jill Galloway take place in the exhibition “John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal.” This session—offered on both Wednesday and Saturday—will focus on setting up a portrait and adding value in charcoal, with Sargent’s works as inspiration. Each workshop includes instruction, guided drawing sessions, and all supplies. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up. Fee: $12. Space is limited. Register at npg.eventbrite.com.
Categories: Workshops. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: $12. Registration required. Get Tickets: npg.eventbrite.com.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Live Chat: Animals in Aviation and Space
One-Time Events
Tune in for an Air and Space Live Chat combining two things we love: animals and aerospace. We'll share stories about the connection that dogs, cats, lions and more have to do with aviation and space.
Watch on Facebook Live on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page.
And tune in every Thursday until the Museum reopens for more Air and Space Live Chats.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Facebook Live. Webcast: http://facebook.com/airandspace. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM.
For more info visit www.facebook.com. CANCELED - American Experiments
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Unity Square is home to American Experiments, a set of activities that invite you to explore, play, and connect with the people around you. Five experiments bring to life the themes of the surrounding exhibitions—participation, commitment, negotiation, voting, protest, and pluralism. You’ll reflect on the history of the nation we build together and consider your own role in creating the nation of tomorrow.
“American Experiments” was developed by the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the Exploratorium of San Francisco, and was made possible by a gift from the Julie and Greg Flynn Family Fund.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Audio Tours canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Put on a head set and immerse yourself into the highlights of the museum’s exhibits. Our curators and other experts will guide you through the museum. There is a tour for everyone in your family, from the youngest preschooler to your tween and all adults. The adult tour is available in Mandarin and Spanish. There is also a tour that focuses on our Democracy, A Great Leap of Faith and Many Voices, One Nation exhibits. The tours make it easy to navigate the museum and assure that you’ll see the best of what we have to offer. The interactive activities, videos and extra information make them fun, too.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 and 2 Center. Cost: Admission
$7.00 each or $6.00 if you buy more than one.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Ride Simulators canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (ride approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of four simulators. Experience the thrill of careening through an action-packed roller-coaster course or racing in futuristic high-speed hovercars.
Choose your adventure: Cosmic Race , Bermuda Triangle , Solar Coaster , Grand Prix Raceway , Astro Canyon , Glacier Run. Note: Simulator accommodates up to 8 people per ride. Children must be 42 inches tall unless riding with an adult.
Open the same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Simulator Gallery, Lower Level. Cost: Tickets always available for purchase at the entrance to the simulator gallery and may also be available at either Welcome desk.
Admission Per Ride
- $7.00 per person
Payment Options:
- Cash, VISA, and MasterCard.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - 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.
Spark!Lab activities are designed around common themes that connect to National Museum of American History collections and exhibitions. Themes are developed broadly to incorporate a wide range of collections and will change on a regular basis, ensuring that regular visitors have something new to explore.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELED - 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.
Weekdays
On weekdays, admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. There may be a brief wait to enter during busy times.
Weekends and Federal Holidays
On weekends and federal holidays, 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 is at 3:30 p.m.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
(CANCELED) STORYTIME
Ongoing Activities
STORYTIME explores contemporary art through stories and movement. Each week features a fresh and fun theme. Bring your littlest art lover for an introduction to an artist on view, interactive read aloud, and a hands-on activity.
Nursing moms are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and Lower Level. Groups of 10 or more should contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance. Please note: snacks are not allowed inside museum galleries, but you may eat outside on our Plaza, or in the ground floor lobby and cafe before or after the program.
ASL interpretation will be provided for this program.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet in Lobby. Cost: Free. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. CANCELED - Flight Simulators: SpaceWalk or Wings (throughout the day)
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of three ride simulators. Choose your adventure: Take a 3-D journey aboard the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station or experience the thrill of a flight in both vintage and jet-age aircraft. Note: Ride Simulators accommodate up to 8 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 42 inches tall unless accompanied by an adult.
, Interactive Flight Simulators: (approximately 6 min.)
Try to become a jet combat "ace" -- in one of two F-4 Phantom II interactive flight simulators -- as you pilot your aircraft into 360-degree barrel rolls. Choose either pilot or gunner responsibilities. Note: Interactive Flight Simulators accommodates 1 to 2 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 48 inches tall.
Year-Round: , Daily: Open same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Main Level, near the simulators. Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or at the Simulator Gallery.
Admission Per Ride:
- Ride Simulator: $8.00 per person
- Interactive Flight Simulator: $10.00 per person
- Add a Simulator: $1.00 off with the purchase of an IMAX Theater ticket
- Groups: Discounts available; ask at the Box Office or at the Flight Simulators
- For reservations, call 202-633-4629 or 1-866-868-7774 (toll-free)
Payment Options:
- At Simulator: Cash, VISA, or MasterCard
- At Box Office: Cash or major…
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
The interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences. Native peoples have always used the natural world around them to meet their needs, and today many of their innovations and inventions are part of daily life for millions worldwide. Visitors to the center can explore some of these ingenious adaptations through a variety of hands-on activities: Weave a giant basket to learn about the various styles of basketry. Explore different modes of transportation like snowshoes and skateboards. Sit inside a full-sized tipi. Learn about the buffalo. The homes where Native people lived are also designed for different environments. Visitors can find out how as they walk through an Amazonian stilt house, see what makes a Pueblo adobe house special ,or learn how a Comanche tipi is built. Be sure to stamp your imagiNATIONS…
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Native people were the original innovators of the Americas: that is the powerful message of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center.
In this family-friendly, interactive space, visitors of all ages will explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world. This exploration is made even more fun by solving puzzles, performing experiments, and playing state-of-the-art computer simulations.
For more information, visit http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/imagiNATIONS/
Group reservations are required, please contact: nmai-ny-education@si.edu or 212-514-3705.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
CLOSED - Butterfly Pavilion
Ongoing Tours & Activities
All Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. including the National Zoo, and in New York City are temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis.
Take a stroll among live butterflies and exotic plants! Located adjacent to Partners in Evolution, this tropical oasis offers visitors a rare opportunity to get close to a variety of living butterflies from all over the world.
Regular Hours: Daily: 10:15 AM-5:30 PM; last timed ticket at 5 PM. (Photo by Rosa Pineda, Smithsonian.).
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Adults (13-59): $7.50 , Seniors (60+): $7 , Children (2 to 12): $6.50 , Tuesdays: Free
Timed entry tickets are required for the Butterfly Pavilion, including Free Tuesdays. Tuesday tickets are available only onsite at the Butterfly Ticket Desk. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:15 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM.
DISCOVERY THEATER: Dance of Hope
Resident Associate Program
Ages 6 and up. The exhilarating mix of music, costumes, and dance offers a vibrant and direct connection to a generation of young Africans who are meeting—and shaping—their futures with resilience and creativity.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History, Baird Auditorium, 10th St & Constitution Ave, NW, Metro: Federal Triangle. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/246189?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM.
CANCELED - Live Tarantula Feedings
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Volunteers conduct live tarantula feeding demonstrations and answer questions about the many-legged creatures that live in the Insect Zoo.
Year-Round: Mon. - Fri.: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM , Sat. and Sun.: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM
Note
- Demonstrations offered unless otherwise posted. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, West, O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:30 AM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Interactive Carts
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Activities include operating a cotton gin, peeking through a stereoscope, experiencing what it felt like to wear a corset, using a press to print a card, and copying a letter the way Jefferson did.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Please note:
Activity subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Spotlight Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
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.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Notes:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Story Time
One-Time Events
Immerse yourself in tales of presidents, artists, inventors, athletes and more! Join us live on Facebook every Wednesday at 11 a.m. for story time with a Portrait Gallery educator. Each week will focus on a new person. Children will learn more about familiar names and faces, plus they can get to know new people from U.S. history as they hear their stories! Select story times will be in Spanish. For children ages 3 and up and their families.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Facebook. Webcast: https://www.facebook.com/smithsoniannpg/. Cost: Free. Find it on Facebook, link below.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 11:00 AM.
CANCELED - Flights of Fancy -- Stories for Children
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Hear museum staff read children's stories about aviation or space exploration; then try your hand at a hands-on activity.
Story time will take place most Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:00 and 11:30 am.
See the National Air and Space Museum website for today's title.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Visit the National Air and Space Museum website for story time location. Cost: Free, parking $15.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
DISCOVERY THEATER: Dance of Hope
Resident Associate Program
Ages 6 and up. The exhilarating mix of music, costumes, and dance offers a vibrant and direct connection to a generation of young Africans who are meeting—and shaping—their futures with resilience and creativity.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History, Baird Auditorium, 10th St & Constitution Ave, NW, Metro: Federal Triangle. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/246190?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Story Time in our Explore! Family Space
Ongoing Activities
Story time in our Explore! space immerses you in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes, and more! Before or after story time, enjoy our family space where you can play and learn about portraiture. 11:45am Tuesday-Sunday. All ages welcome. No reservation required.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Explore! space, first floor. Cost: Free. No registration required.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 11:45 AM.
For more info visit npg.si.edu. CANCELED - Renwick Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights of the National Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a Highlights tour of the National Portrait Gallery.
NOTE: Highlights tours will occur at the following times:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m. Tours are subject to cancellation or schedule changes.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meet in the F Street lobby. Cost: Free: Walk--in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Tour: Art across Cultures: Freer
Tours
Discover outstanding works of art from throughout Asia in an hour-long, docent-led tour through the Freer and Sackler. Explore art from varied time periods, countries, and cultures.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information desk. Cost: Freer; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This highlights tour of the museum's collection may include highlights of the temporary exhibitions.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
Easy PZ with the Smithsonian: Engaging Students in Inquiry with Project Zero
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Easy-to-use approaches to improve student thinking. Facilitator: Phoebe Hillemann, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online. Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUaw7DaCkY. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit www.youtube.com. Live Chat: Careers in Aviation
One-Time Events
Tune in for a Facebook Live chat about careers in the aviation industry featuring Mandi Samek and Shabnam Emdadi from Uber Elevate and Mike Hankins, curator in the aeronautics department at the National Air and Space Museum. Learn about the skills that the aviation industry is looking for in future engineers, pilots, and technicians. What job do you want? Bring your questions.
Tune in on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page.
This live chat is part of our What's New in Aerospace program, made possible by Boeing.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Facebook Live. Webcast: http://facebook.com/airandspace. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Welcome Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CANCELED - Spontaneous Performance
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Infinity of Nations Exhibition Tour: Masks and Transformations
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Join a museum ambassador as they take you through the meaning of five of the masks in Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: free. Related Exhibition: Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
CANCELED - Performance by Dennis Zotigh
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. Workshop Wednesdays 2020: The Eyes Have It
One-Time Events
Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: 2nd floor Lecture Hall. Cost: Free. Get Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-eyes-have-it-wednesday-workshop-series-tickets-90181058975.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
CANCELED - Gallery Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Each weekday afternoon at 1:30, a Cultural Interpreter provides visitors with background on the history, architecture, and work of the museum, and gives a guided tour of one of the major exhibitions—Americans, Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations, or The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire.
Gain deeper insights into both the museum's mission and the subject of the featured exhibition, have your questions answered, and share the experience of the museum with other interested visitors.
Photo: Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and the American Indian Nations. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for museum).
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - See Me at SAAM
One-Time Events
In an effort to make SAAM’s collection accessible to all, See Me at SAAM is designed to enhance the well-being of individuals with dementia and their care partners. This popular series brings people together to experience and discuss art in a small group setting.
Registration required by emailing access@si.edu or calling 202-633-2921.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
CANCELED - Film: "Early Spring"
Films
In his first film after the commercial and critical success of Tokyo Story, Yasujiro Ozu examines life in postwar Japan through the eyes of a young salaryman. Dissatisfied with his career and marriage, he begins an affair with a flirtatious co-worker. (Dir.: Yasujiro Ozu, Japan, 1956, 145 min. DCP, B&W, Japanese with English subtitles).
Categories: Films. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This highlights tour of the museum's collection may include highlights of the temporary exhibitions.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House Tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Join a Museum Ambassador for a tour of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, home of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Tour highlights include a discussion of the history of the site, architect Cass Gilbert, viewing the Collectors office with Tiffany woodwork; Reginald Marsh murals; and the 140 ton Rotunda Dome by Raphael Gustavino.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: Free. Related Events: Tours.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Culture Connections
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Objects and images tell profound stories. Join Cultural Interpreters as they share objects and narratives in our galleries. Gain a deeper understanding of history, culture, and art from hundreds of Indigenous nations in North, Central, and South America.
Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Second Floor Galleries. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Docent's Choice Tour of the Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of one of the following: highlights of the museum, the America's Presidents exhibition, or one of the special exhibitions currently on view.
Tours generally occur:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meets in F Street lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. (CANCELED)Tour: Three/Thirty
Ongoing Activities
Join us at 3:30 PM for THREE/THIRTY for a unique guided tour that explores three artworks in thirty minutes.
All tours are free and open to everyone. Joining is easy, just meet our Gallery Guides at the Welcome Desk in the Lobby. No reservations are necessary.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet at the information desk in the lobby. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM.
CANCELED - Teen-led Tours
One-Time Events
Members of the Teen Museum Council present their take on the Portrait Gallery! Open to all audiences.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Conversation Pieces
One-Time Events
Want to deepen your understanding and appreciation of contemporary art? Join Joanna Marsh, SAAM’s deputy education chair and head of interpretation and audience research, as she uses a single artwork from the museum’s collection to spark conversation and close examination.
Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the G Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
POSTPONED Innovative Lives: The Quickie Wheelchair
One-Time Events
As a public health precaution, the Smithsonian is postponing or canceling all public events, programming and gatherings through May 3. We appreciate your understanding. The Lemelson Center is working to reschedule the April 1 program for a later date in 2020. If you have not done so already, please consider subscribing to the Lemelson Center newsletter to be the first to know about rescheduled and upcoming programs: https://americanhistory.si.edu/connect/email-newsletter. At this time, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are open during their regularly scheduled hours. We are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. The health and safety of our visitors and staff are a top priority, and we are monitoring the guidance of local public health officials and the CDC. Please consult our calendar of events, museum websites and si.edu for the latest updates.
On Wednesday, April 1, join the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation for the next program in its…
Categories: After Five. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free. Get Tickets: https://2020innovativelives.eventbrite.com. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
CANCELED - Living Flowers: Ikebana Demonstration
Talks and Lectures
Ikebana, or “living flowers,” is the ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement. In celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the opening of Meeting Tessai, join us for a rare opportunity to enter the world of Japanese living art with Naohiro Kasuya, the iemoto (headmaster) of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana in Tokyo. Inspired by the work of Tomioka Tessai, this flower arrangement performance and demonstration brings nature and art together. More than simply an interplay of delicate lines and graceful forms, this organic and timeless art form expresses deep appreciation for the harmony between people and nature.
Please note that this event is subject to change based on travel restrictions or other unforeseen circumstances.
Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Event Location: Sackler, level B1 lobby. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 6:30 PM.
Celebrating Robert Frost: An American Poet
Resident Associate Program
More than 50 years after his death, Robert Frost remains one of the most beloved and critically respected poets of all time. Author Daniel Stashower explores Frost’s life and legacy and actor Scott Sedar reads a selection of his most celebrated works.
Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr SW, Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit). Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/247012?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2019FY-Trumba-TSA-ev&utm_content=SA-event&tmssource=243615.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM.
CANCELED - American Experiments
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Unity Square is home to American Experiments, a set of activities that invite you to explore, play, and connect with the people around you. Five experiments bring to life the themes of the surrounding exhibitions—participation, commitment, negotiation, voting, protest, and pluralism. You’ll reflect on the history of the nation we build together and consider your own role in creating the nation of tomorrow.
“American Experiments” was developed by the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the Exploratorium of San Francisco, and was made possible by a gift from the Julie and Greg Flynn Family Fund.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Audio Tours canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Put on a head set and immerse yourself into the highlights of the museum’s exhibits. Our curators and other experts will guide you through the museum. There is a tour for everyone in your family, from the youngest preschooler to your tween and all adults. The adult tour is available in Mandarin and Spanish. There is also a tour that focuses on our Democracy, A Great Leap of Faith and Many Voices, One Nation exhibits. The tours make it easy to navigate the museum and assure that you’ll see the best of what we have to offer. The interactive activities, videos and extra information make them fun, too.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 and 2 Center. Cost: Admission
$7.00 each or $6.00 if you buy more than one.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - Ride Simulators canceled through June 1
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (ride approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of four simulators. Experience the thrill of careening through an action-packed roller-coaster course or racing in futuristic high-speed hovercars.
Choose your adventure: Cosmic Race , Bermuda Triangle , Solar Coaster , Grand Prix Raceway , Astro Canyon , Glacier Run. Note: Simulator accommodates up to 8 people per ride. Children must be 42 inches tall unless riding with an adult.
Open the same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Simulator Gallery, Lower Level. Cost: Tickets always available for purchase at the entrance to the simulator gallery and may also be available at either Welcome desk.
Admission Per Ride
- $7.00 per person
Payment Options:
- Cash, VISA, and MasterCard.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELED - 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.
Spark!Lab activities are designed around common themes that connect to National Museum of American History collections and exhibitions. Themes are developed broadly to incorporate a wide range of collections and will change on a regular basis, ensuring that regular visitors have something new to explore.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELED - 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.
Weekdays
On weekdays, admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. There may be a brief wait to enter during busy times.
Weekends and Federal Holidays
On weekends and federal holidays, 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 is at 3:30 p.m.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
CANCELED - Flight Simulators: SpaceWalk or Wings (throughout the day)
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Ride Simulators: (approximately 5 min.)
Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of three ride simulators. Choose your adventure: Take a 3-D journey aboard the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station or experience the thrill of a flight in both vintage and jet-age aircraft. Note: Ride Simulators accommodate up to 8 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 42 inches tall unless accompanied by an adult.
, Interactive Flight Simulators: (approximately 6 min.)
Try to become a jet combat "ace" -- in one of two F-4 Phantom II interactive flight simulators -- as you pilot your aircraft into 360-degree barrel rolls. Choose either pilot or gunner responsibilities. Note: Interactive Flight Simulators accommodates 1 to 2 people per ride. For safety reasons, children must be 48 inches tall.
Year-Round: , Daily: Open same hours as museum.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Main Level, near the simulators. Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or at the Simulator Gallery.
Admission Per Ride:
- Ride Simulator: $8.00 per person
- Interactive Flight Simulator: $10.00 per person
- Add a Simulator: $1.00 off with the purchase of an IMAX Theater ticket
- Groups: Discounts available; ask at the Box Office or at the Flight Simulators
- For reservations, call 202-633-4629 or 1-866-868-7774 (toll-free)
Payment Options:
- At Simulator: Cash, VISA, or MasterCard
- At Box Office: Cash or major…
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Native people were the original innovators of the Americas: that is the powerful message of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center.
In this family-friendly, interactive space, visitors of all ages will explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world. This exploration is made even more fun by solving puzzles, performing experiments, and playing state-of-the-art computer simulations.
For more information, visit http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/imagiNATIONS/
Group reservations are required, please contact: nmai-ny-education@si.edu or 212-514-3705.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
CLOSED - Butterfly Pavilion
Ongoing Tours & Activities
All Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. including the National Zoo, and in New York City are temporarily closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis.
Take a stroll among live butterflies and exotic plants! Located adjacent to Partners in Evolution, this tropical oasis offers visitors a rare opportunity to get close to a variety of living butterflies from all over the world.
Regular Hours: Daily: 10:15 AM-5:30 PM; last timed ticket at 5 PM. (Photo by Rosa Pineda, Smithsonian.).
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Adults (13-59): $7.50 , Seniors (60+): $7 , Children (2 to 12): $6.50 , Tuesdays: Free
Timed entry tickets are required for the Butterfly Pavilion, including Free Tuesdays. Tuesday tickets are available only onsite at the Butterfly Ticket Desk. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:15 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM.
CANCELED - Live Tarantula Feedings
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Volunteers conduct live tarantula feeding demonstrations and answer questions about the many-legged creatures that live in the Insect Zoo.
Year-Round: Mon. - Fri.: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM , Sat. and Sun.: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM
Note
- Demonstrations offered unless otherwise posted. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, West, O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:30 AM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. CANCELED - Interactive Carts
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Activities include operating a cotton gin, peeking through a stereoscope, experiencing what it felt like to wear a corset, using a press to print a card, and copying a letter the way Jefferson did.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Please note:
Activity subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Spotlight Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
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.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3 PM.
Notes:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Varies. Check at Information Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free!
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Smithsonian Social Studies Online
One-Time Events
Join us for an online exploration into key social studies topics, featuring museum resources from the Smithsonian.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online. Webcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KB2gVZFmEk. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Drawn to Figures
One-Time Events
Discover your inner artist in this digital sketching workshop about portraying the human body. Each Thursday on Instagram at 11 a.m. artist Jill Galloway teaches a new workshop highlighting the techniques and challenges of figure drawing. With guided instruction and helpful tips, these digital workshops are open to all skill levels, ages 13 and up.
National Portrait Gallery Instagram: @smithsoniannpg.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Workshops. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Instagram. Cost: Free. Find it on Instagram, link below.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:00 AM.
CANCELED - Challenging the Face of Science: The Bearded Lady Project. The Expert Is In: Kathy Hollis & Jessie Nakano
One-Time Events
What's it like to be a women in science? Come talk with Kathy Hollis, Collections Manager, and Jessie Nakano, Paleo Registrar, about their career paths of preserving and managing the largest fossil collection in the world.
Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Challenging the Face of Science: The Bearded Lady Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
CANCELED - Flights of Fancy -- Stories for Children
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Hear museum staff read children's stories about aviation or space exploration; then try your hand at a hands-on activity.
Story time will take place most Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:00 and 11:30 am.
See the National Air and Space Museum website for today's title.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Visit the National Air and Space Museum website for story time location. Cost: Free, parking $15.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Infinity of Nations Exhibition Tour: Masks
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, the Smithsonian is postponing or canceling all public events, programming and gatherings through May 3. Please consult our calendar of events, museum websites and si.edu for the latest updates. We appreciate your understanding.
At this time, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are open during their regularly scheduled hours. Please check back frequently for any updates.
Join a museum ambassador as they take you through the meaning of five of the masks in Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: free. Related Exhibition: Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
In Focus
Tours
Do you want to learn about an intriguing object or a favorite work of art in our collections? Join a museum guide for an in-depth exploration (20 to 30 minutes) of one exceptional work. A different piece is featured every day. Visit the In Focus (click on link) calendar approximately ten days before the talk you wish to attend to see the featured works.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at Freer Visitor Services Desk at 11:30am | Meet at Sackler Visitor Services Desk at 12:30pm. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
CANCELED - Story Time in our Explore! Family Space
Ongoing Activities
Story time in our Explore! space immerses you in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes, and more! Before or after story time, enjoy our family space where you can play and learn about portraiture. 11:45am Tuesday-Sunday. All ages welcome. No reservation required.
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Explore! space, first floor. Cost: Free. No registration required.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 11:45 AM.
For more info visit npg.si.edu. CANCELED - Renwick Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:00 PM.
CANCELED - Highlights of the National Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a Highlights tour of the National Portrait Gallery.
NOTE: Highlights tours will occur at the following times:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m. Tours are subject to cancellation or schedule changes.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meet in the F Street lobby. Cost: Free: Walk--in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Walk- In Tour: Art across Cultures: Freer
Tours
Discover outstanding works of art from throughout Asia in an hour-long, docent-led tour through the Freer. Explore art from varied time periods, countries, and cultures.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM.
Workshop: Meditation and Mindfulness
Workshops
Meditation helps us build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. To contribute to a sense of calm in this uncertain time, we are offering free 30-minute online meditations four times each week led by DC-based meditation teachers, starting Monday, March 23. These free sessions are appropriate for all levels of practitioners. All are welcome! No previous experience is required.
Join the sessions here: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016
Mondays and Fridays from 12:15 to 12:45 pm, meditation led by Aparna Sadananda
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45pm, meditation led by Philip Bender.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Workshops. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Webcast: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit zoom.us. CANCELED - In Focus: Charlayne Hunter-Gault
One-Time Events
Join an educator to explore our favorite portraits in the collection on the first Thursday of the month.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:30 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This highlights tour of the museum's collection may include highlights of the temporary exhibitions.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Justice Must Be Done
Ongoing Tours & Activities
It is 1840, and Lucy Caldwell is organizing ordinary citizens for a meeting of the Ipswich Female Anti-Slavery Society. This 20-minute interactive theater program takes place inside the exhibit Within These Walls, a 250-year-old home that was brought from Massachusetts and tells the stories of the real families who lived in it. While the meeting may be about the Abolition movement of the 1840s, visitors are encouraged to consider strategies they can use to make a positive change in our modern-day society.
Showtimes:
Thursdays in March and April at 12:30 and 2:30 pm.
Please note:
Shows subject to actor availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Within These Walls, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM.
Live Chat: Science Fiction
One-Time Events
The National Air and Space Museum shares stories of science fiction as well, because inspiration and imagination are critical to spaceflight. Tune in for a live chat with Margaret Weitekamp, chair of the Museum's space history department and our resident sci-fi expert.
Watch on Facebook Live on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page.
We’ll be hosting an Air and Space Live Chat on Facebook Live every Thursday at 1 pm EDT until the Museum reopens. Each week we’ll feature a different expert to answer questions from kids, students, and air and space enthusiasts.
Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Facebook Live. Webcast: http://facebook.com/airandspace. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.facebook.com. CANCELED - Highlights Tours
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the highlights of the museum. Meet at the Information Desk on the first or second floor.
Year-Round:
Daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM as docents are available; please check at either Information Desk for daily schedules.
Please Note:
Tours subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Welcome Desks, 1 Center and 2 Center. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - Gallery Talk: Hokusai: Mad about Painting
Talks and Lectures
Join us for an in-depth exploration of Hokusai: Mad about Painting, a special exhibition focusing on the renowned artist Katsushika Hokusai and the Freer Gallery’s exceptional collection of his screens and scrolls, drawings, woodblock prints, and manga.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Freer, north lobby (National Mall side). Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad about Painting.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docents who will lead a tour of the highlights of the Museum.
Daily: 10:30 AM and 1 PM
Note: Additional tours may be offered as posted at the Welcome Center.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Meet at tour desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. CLOSED - imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
The interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences. Native peoples have always used the natural world around them to meet their needs, and today many of their innovations and inventions are part of daily life for millions worldwide. Visitors to the center can explore some of these ingenious adaptations through a variety of hands-on activities: Weave a giant basket to learn about the various styles of basketry. Explore different modes of transportation like snowshoes and skateboards. Sit inside a full-sized tipi. Learn about the buffalo. The homes where Native people lived are also designed for different environments. Visitors can find out how as they walk through an Amazonian stilt house, see what makes a Pueblo adobe house special ,or learn how a Comanche tipi is built. Be sure to stamp your imagiNATIONS…
Categories: Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
CANCELED - Spontaneous Performance
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELED - Performance by Dennis Zotigh
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Santee Dakota and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) on most weekdays in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, audiences from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Native culture.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Gallery Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Each weekday afternoon at 1:30, a Cultural Interpreter provides visitors with background on the history, architecture, and work of the museum, and gives a guided tour of one of the major exhibitions—Americans, Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations, or The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire.
Gain deeper insights into both the museum's mission and the subject of the featured exhibition, have your questions answered, and share the experience of the museum with other interested visitors.
Photo: Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and the American Indian Nations. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for museum).
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. CANCELED - Castle Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours
Did you know that the Castle is the Smithsonian’s first and oldest building? Join us as one of our dynamic volunteer docents takes you on a tour to explore the highlights of the Smithsonian Castle. Come learn about the founding and early history of the Smithsonian; its original benefactor, James Smithson; and the incredible history and architecture of the Castle. Here is your opportunity to discover the treasured stories revealed within James Smithson's crypt, the Great Hall, and the West Wing. We’ll see you at the Castle!
Year-Round: , Daily: 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Note
- Tour subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Meet at information desk. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This highlights tour of the museum's collection may include highlights of the temporary exhibitions.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Challenging the Face of Science: The Bearded Lady Project. The Expert Is In: Lynn Sures
One-Time Events
What’s it like to be a woman artist interested in science? Come talk with Lynn Sures, Smithsonian Research Associate, about her artistic career path, how science has inspired new artistic research and exploration, her mentors in the arts and in science, unexpected aspects of her artistic life, professional travel experiences, and balancing career and family.
Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio description are available with two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Challenging the Face of Science: The Bearded Lady Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Hokusai Spotlights
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House Tour
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, the Smithsonian is postponing or canceling all public events, programming and gatherings through May 3. Please consult our calendar of events, museum websites and si.edu for the latest updates. We appreciate your understanding.
At this time, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are open during their regularly scheduled hours. Please check back frequently for any updates.
Join a Museum Ambassador for a tour of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, home of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Tour highlights include a discussion of the history of the site and architect Cass Gilbert. View the Collector's Office, featuring Tiffany woodwork, as well as the museum's rotunda, lined with Reginald Marsh murals and capped by a 140-ton Rotunda dome by Raphael Gustavino.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Meet at East Visitor Services Desk, 2nd Floor. Cost: Free. Related Events: Tours.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Culture Connections
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, both our locations and all other Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed.
Objects and images tell profound stories. Join Cultural Interpreters as they share objects and narratives in our galleries. Gain a deeper understanding of history, culture, and art from hundreds of Indigenous nations in North, Central, and South America.
Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: Second Floor Galleries. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Video Webinar: How Birds Stay Warm with Ornithologist Sahas Barve
One-Time Events
How do birds stay warm, especially in some of the coldest places on Earth, like the Himalayas? Explore the science behind how bird feathers help them conserve body heat with Smithsonian ornithologist (bird nerd) Sahas Barve from the National Museum of Natural History. Sahas studies how birds stay warm across Earth’s highest mountain range, the Himalayas, and will use examples from his research during the program.
This webcast supports learning standards in Life Science.
How to Join: The webinar will be presented on Zoom video; we will publish the Zoom link here and on our Distance Learning web page.
Your students are invited to submit questions for Sahas to respond to throughout the webinar.
Complementary resources for this webinar include: Previous webcast with Sahas, "How Birds Stay Warm" , Worksheet: How Birds Stay Warm , Worksheet: See-Think-Wonder , Learning Lab Collection: How Birds Stay Warm About Smithsonian Science How Video Webinars
We're moving our popular webcast series to video…
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online; Internet connection required. Cost: Free. Registration is requested, but not required.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu. Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. CANCELED - Justice Must Be Done
Ongoing Tours & Activities
It is 1840, and Lucy Caldwell is organizing ordinary citizens for a meeting of the Ipswich Female Anti-Slavery Society. This 20-minute interactive theater program takes place inside the exhibit Within These Walls, a 250-year-old home that was brought from Massachusetts and tells the stories of the real families who lived in it. While the meeting may be about the Abolition movement of the 1840s, visitors are encouraged to consider strategies they can use to make a positive change in our modern-day society.
Showtimes:
Thursdays in March and April at 12:30 and 2:30 pm.
Please note:
Shows subject to actor availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Categories: Performances. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Within These Walls, 2 West. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELED - Docent's Choice Tour of the Portrait Gallery
Ongoing Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of one of the following: highlights of the museum, the America's Presidents exhibition, or one of the special exhibitions currently on view.
Tours generally occur:
Monday–Friday: noon and 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:45 a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, and 4:30 p.m.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Meets in F Street lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
Walk-In Tour: Hokusai and the Art of Japan
Tours
The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is widely recognized for a single image—Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, an icon of global art—yet he produced thousands of works throughout his long life. Come view the exhibition Hokusai: Mad About Painting, which features works from the world’s largest collection of paintings, sketches, and drawings by Hokusai. Works large and small are on view, 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.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meet at the Freer Information Desk. Cost: Free; walk-in. Related Exhibition: Hokusai: Mad About Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
For more info visit asia.si.edu. (CANCELED)Tour: Three/Thirty
Ongoing Activities
Join us at 3:30 PM for THREE/THIRTY for a unique guided tour that explores three artworks in thirty minutes.
All tours are free and open to everyone. Joining is easy, just meet our Gallery Guides at the Welcome Desk in the Lobby. No reservations are necessary.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Event Location: Meet at the information desk in the lobby. Cost: Free; walk-in.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM.
CANCELED - Smithsonian American Art Museum Special Exhibitions Highlights Tour
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Look for our friendly docent who will give a tour of the special exhibitions.
Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Smithsonian Social Studies Online
One-Time Events
Join us for an online exploration into key social studies topics, featuring museum resources from the Smithsonian.
Categories: Webcasts & Online. Event Location: Online. Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sfhrv9OFfs. Cost: Free.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
POSTPONED - Native Sounds Downtown Featuring DDAT
American Indian Museum NY
As a public health precaution, the Smithsonian is postponing or canceling all public events, programming and gatherings through May 3. This event has been postponed. We'll list the new date when we have it. Please consult our calendar of events, museum websites and si.edu for the latest updates. We appreciate your understanding.
At this time, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are temporarily closed.
Celebrate Jazz History Month with an exhilarating night of jazz featuring the band DDAT. Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, band members Chris Bidtah (vocals), Delbert Anderson (trumpet), Nicholas Lucero (drums) and Mike McCluhan (bass) fill the stage with their funky fusion of jazz and hip hop.
Photo credit: Paul McPhearson, Shutterfreek.
Categories: After Five. Performances. Venue: American Indian Museum Heye Center. Event Location: 1st Floor, Diker Pavilion. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, April 2, 2020, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.