DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Closer Look: Water's Edge
One-Time Events
Join Rebecca Trautmann, curator of Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, for an in-gallery conversation. She will offer visitors a closer look at select artworks in the exhibition. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, exhibition gallery. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe.
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
NY | Return of the Buffalo: Native Pride Dancers
One-Time Events
Want to see a herd of life-size buffalo puppets roam lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn? Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi invites New York City to enjoy the live music, ceremonies, poetry, and performances the buffalo will encounter at locations of historic significance along the way. This free public art spectacle is inspired by the buffalo’s return from near extinction to repopulation.
Join the Native Pride Dancers on the cobblestones outside the entrance of our New York museum to welcome the herd! Performances will honor the relationship between many Native cultures and the buffalo since time immemorial. Performances begin at 4:20 PM, 5 PM, and 6:20 PM.
Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi, presented by St. Ann’s Warehouse & The Walk Productions, is a free public art event created by Amir Nizar Zuabi in partnership with Elders from Lenape and Lakota Tribes.
Rain location: Level 1, Diker Pavilion
Image courtesy of Native Pride Dancers.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Outdoors, Cobblestones outside entrance, Rain location: Level 1, Diker Pavilion. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, September 18, 2026, 4:20 PM – 6:45 PM.
NY | Pacific Island Film Festival: "Mārama"
One-Time Events
The Pacific Island Film Festival of New York City provides a platform for Pacific Island cinema and promotes networking and talent development in New York City, giving the communities in and around New York City the opportunity to experience and immerse themselves in storytelling from Pacific Islanders.
Join us for a free screening of Mārama (New Zealand, 2025, 89 min.), directed by Taratoa Stappard (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa me Ngāti Tūwharetoa), presented in English and Māori with English subtitles.
A young Māori woman, Mary, receives a mysterious letter promising information about her genealogy. She makes the journey to Yorkshire, England from New Zealand, only to learn the sender has passed. A wealthy whaler, Sir Nathaniel Cole forces Mary to become governess to his granddaughter, Anne, in his home filled with Māori belongings. Living among her ancestors’ stolen artifacts, she begins to uncover Sir Cole’s horrific crimes. Embracing her powers as a Matakite (a seer), Mary becomes Mārama and must save…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Lower Level: Auditorium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Films. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Captioning.
Friday, September 18, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
NY | Hands On: Native New York Traditions featuring Danielle Soames
One-Time Events
Experience the tradition and creativity of cornhusk doll making with Danielle Soames (Mohawk), a returning Native educator at the National Museum of the American Indian and an accomplished actress, playwright, and director in New York City's theater community. Through this hands-on workshop, Danielle will share the cultural significance of cornhusk dolls to her community and guide participants in creating their own.
All are welcome! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Visitors 15 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | 2026 Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In: Cultural Sovereignty on the 250th
One-Time Events
The annual Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) Teach-In brings together hundreds of teachers from across the country to enlighten and inform teaching about American Indians. Through interactive workshops, teachers will engage with classroom-ready lessons for K–12 students that center Native voices and histories. Participants will learn how to bring the museum’s exhibitions and the resource-rich NK360° education initiative into their teaching practices.
The tenth annual Teach-In, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in partnership with Teaching for Change, will highlight the connections between Indigenous history and current cultural sovereignty efforts. The Teach-In is an opportunity for educators to convene in person with the museum’s educators and scholars and discuss how to engage students with compelling questions and explorations of new ideas. What does teaching about Indigenous people look like on the 250th anniversary of the United States? How can teachers inspire and empower…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 1, Level 3, Level 4. Cost: $20, registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.teachingforchange.org/2026-nk360-teach-in. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
For more info visit www.teachingforchange.org. DC | Worldwide Day of Play
One-Time Events
Bring your family to enjoy Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play all about birds. Join educators from multiple Smithsonian museums including the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian's National Zoo, National Air and Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, and more! Staff will offer family-friendly activities and experiences that encourage the importance of play for all ages.
Adults must accompany children at all times. No registration required. Some activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
NY | 2026 Native Knowledge 360° Mini Teach-In: Cultural Sovereignty on the 250th
One-Time Events
The annual Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) Teach-In will bring together an intimate group of teachers from the New York City metropolitan area to enlighten and inform teaching about American Indians. Educators will learn ways to integrate Native perspectives and histories using NK360’s classroom ready resources. A small resource fair, tours, education carts and school visit information will be available. Bring your lunch and stay to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month featuring a musical performance by Pasatono Trio at 1 PM.
This New York City Teach-In is a MINI version of our flagship annual Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In. This is a more intimate, limited-capacity gathering designed to bring the same rich content and hands-on approach to educators in the NYC metro area who might not otherwise be able to attend the main event in D.C. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
This tenth annual Teach-In, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in partnership with Teaching…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: Free, registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.teachingforchange.org/2026-nk360-teach-in. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit www.teachingforchange.org. DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited.
**This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
NY | Pasatono Trio
One-Time Events
Celebrate the revitalization of traditional Oaxacan folk music with the Pasatono Trio! Founded in 1998, Pasatono Trio has focused its efforts on researching, performing, composing, and promoting the musical culture of the Mixtec community. After a long journey of many years of exploration throughout the states of Guerrero, Puebla, Oaxaca, and the transnational community, Pasatono Trio has been nourished by “living treasures”: luthiers, bass players, banjo players, violinists, and composers, among others, who possess a great knowledge of their musical culture, being considered cultural ambassadors of the new Oaxacan music. The trio are not only ethnomusicologists but seasoned performers. Performances begin at 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Ancient Canoes of Wisconsin: Ancestry and Archaeology (Panel Discussion)
One-Time Events
Join the museum for a lively discussion with Bill “Nąąwącekǧize” Quackenbush, former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Dr. Amy Rosebrough, Wisconsin’s State Archaeologist, about the archaeological dugout canoes found in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. Dugout canoes are hollowed out logs, and the world's oldest type of boat found to date. For an understanding of their historical scale, some of the canoes found in Lake Mendota are as old as Egypt's Great Pyramids.
Canoes were a favorite subject of artist Truman Lowe (Hoocąk, 1944-2019), who appreciated their enduring design, well-suited to the waters they travel. Since 2021, sixteen dugout canoes ranging from 700 to 5,200 years old have been found in Lake Mendota (Tee Waksikhominak) in Lowe’s home of Madison, Wisconsin. Lowe’s work is featured in the exhibition Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Bill “Nąąwącekǧize” Quackenbush is a Ho‑Chunk Deer Clan tribal member and the Nation’s recently retired Tribal Historic Preservation…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Captioning. Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Pasatono Trio
One-Time Events
Celebrate the revitalization of traditional Oaxacan folk music with the Pasatono Trio! Founded in 1998, Pasatono Trio has focused its efforts on researching, performing, composing, and promoting the musical culture of the Mixtec community. After a long journey of many years of exploration throughout the states of Guerrero, Puebla, Oaxaca, and the transnational community, Pasatono Trio has been nourished by “living treasures”: luthiers, bass players, banjo players, violinists, and composers, among others, who possess a great knowledge of their musical culture, being considered cultural ambassadors of the new Oaxacan music. The trio are not only ethnomusicologists but seasoned performers. Performances begin at 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
ONLINE | Quilt Along: Border by Margaret Wood
One-Time Events
Reflect on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the ever-evolving nature of the country, communities, and future we share through a Native lens by participating in a free Quilt Along hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
This five-month, mystery-style quilt along invites quilters and anyone interested in quilting to sew along. You don’t need to be an expert quilter to participate. Each month from June to October 2026, the museum will release a new block pattern, followed by a border pattern and finishing instructions, to create a commemorative wall hanging. Learn more and sign up for updates.
The border is designed by Margaret Wood. Wood's border design addresses the theme of Always Becoming. The pattern will be revealed on the museum's Quilt Along page and social media channels at 10 AM ET. Join the conversation on Facebook (link to come) to share your tips and tricks or learn from experienced quilters as you complete your quilt.
…
Location Icon: Online. Event Location: Online only. Cost: Participation and patterns are free; materials not included. Categories: Webcasts & Online.
Thursday, October 1, 2026.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
NY | The Americas Film Festival New York: "Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)"
One-Time Events
In 2000 BCE Igloolik, Nunavut, star-crossed teenage lovers Kaujak and Sapa are promised to each other since birth, but their bond is shattered when Kaujak’s father dies and her mother marries a man from a distant camp. The promise of a better future turns into a desperate struggle as Kaujak is besieged by aggressive suitors backed by a powerful, evil shaman. Despite the pressure, Kaujak holds fast to her heart, resisting all attempts to claim her and clinging to the hope that Sapa will return to make good on their childhood pledge. Director: Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Canada, 2025, 100 min. Inuktitut with English subtitles
Content Advisory: contains scenes of physical violence. The Americas Film Festival New York (TAFFNY) is a film festival that showcases premieres, award winning films, and classic works about the cultures and peoples of the Americas. The festival is a project of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Center for Worker Education of City College of New York (The City University of…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Lower Level: Auditorium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning.
Friday, October 9, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
NY | Hands On: Native New York Traditions featuring Danielle Soames
One-Time Events
Experience the tradition and creativity of cornhusk doll making with Danielle Soames (Mohawk), a returning Native educator at the National Museum of the American Indian and an accomplished actress, playwright, and director in New York City's theater community. Through this hands-on workshop, Danielle will share the cultural significance of cornhusk dolls to her community and guide participants in creating their own.
All are welcome! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Visitors 15 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
CANCELLED - NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
CANCELLED - NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Quilt Along: Sit and Sew
One-Time Events
Join Emma Alcazar (Chickasaw) and fellow Quilt Along participants in person for a screen-free afternoon of community and connection. Bring your quilt, at whatever stage it may be in, or any other sewing project. Hand-sewing only, no machines.
Note: Visitors are not allowed to bring scissors, sewing machines, irons, rotary cutters, and other sharp tools into the museum.
Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged to ensure there is enough seating for all participants. Register here!
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://nmai.swoogo.com/QALDCSitandSew. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit nmai.swoogo.com. NY | Quilt Along: Sit and Sew
One-Time Events
Join Margaret Wood (Diné/Seminole) and fellow Quilt Along participants in person for a screen-free afternoon of community and connection. Bring your quilt, at whatever stage it may be in, or any other sewing project. Hand-sewing only, no machines.
Note: Visitors are not allowed to bring scissors, sewing machines, irons, rotary cutters, and other sharp tools into the museum.
Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged to ensure there is enough seating for all participants. Register here!
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://nmai.swoogo.com/QALNYSitandSew. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit nmai.swoogo.com. DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Closer Look: Stretching the Canvas
One-Time Events
Join curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) and artist Melissa Melero-Moose (Northern Paiute/Modoc) for an in-gallery conversation about select works in Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting, including Melero-Moose's own Access Denied (2020-2021, 27/689). The exhibition explores how American Indian art expanded after World War I and how Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored their talent.
Melissa Melero-Moose is a Northern Paiute enrolled with the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe with ties to Fort Bidwell Paiute and Modoc tribes. She is a mixed media painter whose imagery, with use of willow, pinenuts and earth, portrays abstractions of landscape and memory in her Great Basin home. Melissa holds a BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Portland State University, Oregon. She lives with her family in Northern Nevada working as a professional artist, curator for the Great Basin Native Artists Gallery…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 4. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
One-Time Events
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and honoring the cycle of life. Learn about La Catrina and her joyful view of life and mortality. Enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the day, including dance performances, coloring activities, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their names on a butterfly to attach to the memorial arch.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, LEVEL 1: Potomac Atrium, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4 PM | Dance Performances by Grupo los Tecuanes
The name of the Danza de los Tecuanes (Dance of the Jaguar) is rooted in the Mixtec understanding of the duality of life and death and the fight of good against evil. The Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Old Men) is a humorous dance featuring dancers colorfully dressed as old men. LEVEL 3:…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium and Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
NY | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
One-Time Events
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for honoring the cycle of life, and remembering our ancestors and those who have gone before us. Learn about the ofrenda (altar) and commemorate a loved one who has passed by leaving a photo or memento. Families can enjoy coloring activities and making paper marigolds and masks. Visitors of all ages can enjoy traditional dance performances by New York-based Aztec dance group Cetiliztli Nauhcampa. Performances begin at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Photo by Erik Guevara Ramirez.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, November 25, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, November 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Designed for early learners (ages 0-2), their caregivers, and families, this drop-in program offers young visitors the opportunity to enjoy a book by a Native author or illustrator read by a Museum Educator, engage in free play and sensory enrichment, and participate in other hands-on learning.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages 0-2 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
DC | Welcome to a Native Place
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present. Presentations may be canceled without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Potomac Atrium. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
NY | Hands On: Miniature Drums with Lance Cardinal
One-Time Events
Get inspired by our exhibition Mighty Miniatures and then make your own miniature drum with guidance from artist Lance Cardinal (Bigstone Cree Nation, Treat 8 Territory, Alberta, Canada), recognized for his creativity across the scale, from massive public art works to miniatures.
Lance Cardinal is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist with experience in design, murals, acting, and miniatures. Cardinal was a finalist on the third season of the reality television show “Best In Miniature”. His 85-foot tall mural “The Land We Share” is recognized as the largest solar panel art in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records (2025). He created the Turtle Island Team logo for the Edmonton Oilers professional hockey team, has worked with IKEA to create the first Indigenous family furniture showroom at their Edmonton location. Cardinal won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for "Best Children's or Youth non-fiction program or series" for his show “Indigenous Art Adventures” on APTN. Learn more about Cardinal on…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, Thunderbird Room. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Workshops. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:35 AM.
DC | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
***Schedule subject to change without prior notice.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Level 3. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
NY | Curator Tour: "Mighty Miniatures"
One-Time Events
Join museum curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) for a tour of the exhibition Mighty Miniatures. Montiel will share how these tiny marvels reveal stories about childhood, creativity, and innovation, as well as the ways Indigenous communities have used miniatures to preserve traditional knowledge and support economic development. Ranging from North, Central, and South America and Hawai‘i, the exhibition features over 300 works from the museum’s collection of more than 1,300 miniatures. Dolls, pottery, baskets, and more—Mighty Miniatures celebrates these artistic marvels in miniature and the Indigenous artists who make them.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, East Gallery. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
NY | Hands On: Miniature Drums with Lance Cardinal
One-Time Events
Get inspired by our exhibition Mighty Miniatures and then make your own miniature drum with guidance from artist Lance Cardinal (Bigstone Cree Nation, Treat 8 Territory, Alberta, Canada), recognized for his creativity across the scale, from massive public art works to miniatures.
Lance Cardinal is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist with experience in design, murals, acting, and miniatures. Cardinal was a finalist on the third season of the reality television show “Best In Miniature”. His 85-foot tall mural “The Land We Share” is recognized as the largest solar panel art in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records (2025). He created the Turtle Island Team logo for the Edmonton Oilers professional hockey team, has worked with IKEA to create the first Indigenous family furniture showroom at their Edmonton location. Cardinal won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for "Best Children's or Youth non-fiction program or series" for his show “Indigenous Art Adventures” on APTN. Learn more about Cardinal on…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, Thunderbird Room. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Workshops. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:35 PM.
DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families
One-Time Events
Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Location Icon: Washington, DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Miniature Drums with Lance Cardinal
One-Time Events
Get inspired by our exhibition Mighty Miniatures and then make your own miniature drum with guidance from artist Lance Cardinal (Bigstone Cree Nation, Treat 8 Territory, Alberta, Canada), recognized for his creativity across the scale, from massive public art works to miniatures.
Lance Cardinal is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist with experience in design, murals, acting, and miniatures. Cardinal was a finalist on the third season of the reality television show “Best In Miniature”. His 85-foot tall mural “The Land We Share” is recognized as the largest solar panel art in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records (2025). He created the Turtle Island Team logo for the Edmonton Oilers professional hockey team, has worked with IKEA to create the first Indigenous family furniture showroom at their Edmonton location. Cardinal won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for "Best Children's or Youth non-fiction program or series" for his show “Indigenous Art Adventures” on APTN. Learn more about Cardinal on…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, Thunderbird Room. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Workshops. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:35 PM.
NY | Story Time
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's teaching collection, such as photographs, textiles, or natural materials, which can deepen their understanding of the community represented in the story, along with a craft or other activity. All are welcome.
*Recommended for visitors ages 3–9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. **Schedule subject to change.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM.
NY | Curator Tour: "Mighty Miniatures"
One-Time Events
Join museum curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) for a tour of the exhibition Mighty Miniatures. Montiel will share how these tiny marvels reveal stories about childhood, creativity, and innovation, as well as the ways Indigenous communities have used miniatures to preserve traditional knowledge and support economic development. Ranging from North, Central, and South America and Hawai‘i, the exhibition features over 300 works from the museum’s collection of more than 1,300 miniatures. Dolls, pottery, baskets, and more—Mighty Miniatures celebrates these artistic marvels in miniature and the Indigenous artists who make them.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, East Gallery. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Miniature Drums with Lance Cardinal
One-Time Events
Get inspired by our exhibition Mighty Miniatures and then make your own miniature drum with guidance from artist Lance Cardinal (Bigstone Cree Nation, Treat 8 Territory, Alberta, Canada), recognized for his creativity across the scale, from massive public art works to miniatures.
Lance Cardinal is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist with experience in design, murals, acting, and miniatures. Cardinal was a finalist on the third season of the reality television show “Best In Miniature”. His 85-foot tall mural “The Land We Share” is recognized as the largest solar panel art in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records (2025). He created the Turtle Island Team logo for the Edmonton Oilers professional hockey team, has worked with IKEA to create the first Indigenous family furniture showroom at their Edmonton location. Cardinal won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for "Best Children's or Youth non-fiction program or series" for his show “Indigenous Art Adventures” on APTN. Learn more about Cardinal on…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Location Icon: New York, NY. Event Location: Level 2, Thunderbird Room. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Workshops. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Mighty Miniatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:35 PM.