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Preserve Your Story: Create A Living Archive
One-Time Events
Create an interactive story to explore the power of your personal, family, and community history using heirlooms, photographs, textiles, and cherished objects.
Join us for a hands-on workshop where memory meets creativity and learn how to preserve special moments. Whether honoring a loved one, preserving traditions, or celebrating milestones, this workshop guides you in creating a living archive – a dynamic story that evolves, expands, and connects generations.
This session will be led by multi-Emmy award-winning Director, Tiffany McNeil. Participants will enjoy exclusive before-hours access to the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s global exhibition, In Slavery’s Wake.
This experience will use Tiffany’s artistically layered films featured throughout In Slavery's Wake to inspire the powerful use of storytelling. Through guided exercises, conversation prompts, digital scanning, and other creative techniques participants will learn how to curate their own archive.
Participants…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor Target Learning Classrooms, meet on Concourse Level. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35242801/share-your-family-storycreate-a-living-archive-washington-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-audience-engagement. Related Exhibition: In Slavery's Wake.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
In Slavery’s Wake Highlights Tour
One-Time Events
Learn about the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. Through powerful artifacts, stories, and interactive displays, this immersive exhibition invites visitors into a global conversation on the continued impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the In Slavery’s Wake exhibition, located on Concourse Level C. Morning tour programs take place at 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
World Ocean Day
One-Time Events
Celebrate World Ocean Day with the National Museum of Natural History on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Join ocean scientists, researchers, and educators in the Sant Ocean Hall for an exciting series of interactive experiences celebrating our blue planet and exploring all the ways science and community action can connect us to our waterways.
See the full list of the museum's World Ocean Day events.
Photo credit: Teodor Drobota on Unsplash.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
World Ocean Day Play Date: "Don't Eat the Cleaners" with Susan Stockdale
One-Time Events
Join us for a special edition of Play Date for World Ocean Day featuring a story time with special guest author and artist, Susan Stockdale!
We are so excited to welcome Susan Stockdale to read and demonstrate how she created her new picture book, Don’t Eat the Cleaners! – the ninth book she has written and illustrated with the research assistance of our very own museum’s scientists. Children will learn how ocean animals visit “cleaning stations” at coral reefs around the world. While there, tiny but mighty cleaner fish and shrimp remove their pesky parasites in return for a tasty meal. And animals ranging from manta rays to sharks must remember the golden rule if they want a washing by the scrubbing crew: Don’t Eat the Cleaners! Susan will engage children as “picture detectives” to uncover the changes she made from her first sketches to her final, splashy illustrations, and encourage them to create their own books! Museum educators will also be facilitating multiple hands-on stations throughout the Sant…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
DC | Sweetheart Dancers
One-Time Events
Watch Sean and Adrian challenge the rulebook of the Native American Sweetheart Special as they attempt to compete in a powwow’s annual couples’ competition. Dancing not only against the other dancers, but against the drums of oppression and closed-mindedness, this couple is determined to rewrite the rules of "one man, one woman" with their resplendent charisma, character and resilience. Director: Ben-Alex Dupris (Colville), USA, 2019, 13 min.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: Free.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM.
CANCELLED - Drawn to Figures
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Discover your inner artist in this live virtual drawing workshop. Facilitated by artist Jill Galloway, each program will highlight a Portrait Gallery exhibition or a portrait from the collection. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Online Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-drawn-to-figures-tickets-880971558647?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-drawn-to-figures-tickets-880971558647?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Sketch Break
One-Time Events
Join us for a sketching session in our galleries. Create, connect and sketch with fellow artists while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Participants can expect guided instruction from an artist educator before heading into the galleries to sketch on their own. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up. All materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own sketchbooks.
Event Location: In the Galleries. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-sketch-break-tickets-991180235767?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Pop-Up Concert
One-Time Events
Join the Rock Creek Singers, the chamber ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, as they perform choral arrangements of popular songs. This performance is presented in celebration of World Pride 2025, hosted in Washington, DC.
Image Credit: Photo by Ronté Pierce.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1iXcP.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM.
DC | Sweetheart Dancers
One-Time Events
Watch Sean and Adrian challenge the rulebook of the Native American Sweetheart Special as they attempt to compete in a powwow’s annual couples’ competition. Dancing not only against the other dancers, but against the drums of oppression and closed-mindedness, this couple is determined to rewrite the rules of "one man, one woman" with their resplendent charisma, character and resilience. Director: Ben-Alex Dupris (Colville), USA, 2019, 13 min.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: Free.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM.
First Thursdays: Come Look with Us
One-Time Events
Need to wind down after work? Let the National Portrait Gallery's educators share their favorite portraits with you. Participants spend time slowing down, conversing and looking at an artwork in the galleries.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-thursdays-come-look-with-us-tickets-1233093649299?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Access Amplified: Voices from the Zero Barriers in K-12 STEM Education Sourcebook
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Join us virtually on Thursday, June 5th from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM to learn more about resources to promote accessibility and inclusion in K-12 classrooms. This session will also detail the design and production of the Zero Barriers in K-12 STEM Education Sourcebook—a resource guide and collection of first-hand narratives about implementing inclusive practices for all students. Hear from our expert authors on the lessons they learned while creating the Sourcebook and how their experiences in the Zero Barriers Program have shaped their work in accessibility in their own classrooms, schools, systems, and communities.
Panelists will share their strategies, solutions, and stories for how the Sourcebook can be a guide for other educators to effect change in their own context. Whether you are looking to take your first steps in exploring accessibility or searching for new resources to strengthen your current initiatives, you'll leave this webinar with practical tools, lessons, and motivation to support ALL learners i…
Online Location: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/fycEiHhjSRmIECPGeaYQ9g#/registration. Cost: Free. Category: Leadership. Contact Email: ssec-communications@si.edu.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit ssec.si.edu. An Evening With Finspan: World Ocean Day Board Game Night
One-Time Events
From the world of game developer Elizabeth Hargrave’s hit board game Wingspan comes Finspan, a deep dive into aquatic life of the world’s seas and oceans. Celebrate World Ocean Day with the National Museum of Natural History and join in the conversation with Finspan designer David Gordon and zoologist in the Division of Fishes at NMNH Matt Girard moderated by Associate Director for Science and Chief Scientist at NMNH Rebecca Johnson. , After the conversation, stick around to enjoy exclusive after hours access to Sant Ocean Hall and play Finspan – beginners and enthusiasts welcome. Labyrinth Games will help with set up and instruction. Copies of the Finspan boardgame will be available for purchase. Registration is free and highly encouraged. Space is filled at a first come first served basis.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor and First Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/74563023/an-evening-with-finspanworld-ocean-day-board-game-night-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Related Events: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/events/festivals-and-event-series/world-ocean-day. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. A History of the Movie Musical: From The Jazz Singer to A Star Is Born
Resident Associate Program
As soon as movies could talk, they began to sing and dance. Over the next nine decades, the movie musical evolved to embrace every type of performance, from operetta to rock to tap to ballet. Musicals drew on Broadway hits and original creations from composers like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin. Media historian Brian Rose traces the history of musicals and shows more than 30 excerpts spotlighting artists including Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, the Nicholas Brothers, and the Beatles.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263502?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263502?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
From Polka Dots to Infinity Rooms: The Art and Life of Yayoi Kusama
Resident Associate Program
From her early painted works on paper to more recent, large-scale installations and wildly popular Infinity Rooms, the career of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has been defined by bold experimentation and artistic vision. Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the evolution of Kusama’s work, examining her signature motifs—flowers, polka dots, and mirrors—through the lenses of Pop Art, feminism, conceptualism, and personal introspection. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit) .
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263534?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263534?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Trivia Night in celebration of WorldPride
One-Time Events
Test your knowledge at the National Museum of American History!
Register your team (up to 4) and try to outsmart DC’s best with an evening of LGBTQ+ trivia!
This program is ticketed and only intended for 21+ audiences. IDs will be checked at the door. A cash bar will be available.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
______________________
The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. ASL services will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free, team registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trivia-night-in-celebration-of-worldpride-tickets-1368972586859?aff=trumba. Accessibility: Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. North to Freedom: Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore
Resident Associate Program
Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, around 1822, young Araminta Ross faced adversity from an early age. These hardships transformed “Minty” into Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad, and her childhood knowledge of the geography of the Eastern Shore played a key role in her success in ferrying more than 70 people to freedom by 1860. Historian Anthony Cohen reveals the saga of Tubman’s life by exploring significant sites in the region where she was raised—and that shaped her dreams of freedom and equality.
Event Location: Departs from Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St SW (corner of 6th & C Sts) Fringe stop: New. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263611?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 8:00 AM – 6:15 PM.
Conversation Circles
One-Time Events
Calling all English-language learners – Join National Portrait Gallery educators and friends from all over the world. Together, we’ll use portraiture to learn about U.S. art, history and culture. This program takes place every other week. Meet new friends, learn about different cultures and practice your English. For more information, email Beth Evans at evansb@si.edu.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Cost: Free. No Registration Required.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Story Time
One-Time Events
Stamp your calendar for Story Time! Join us every week for a fresh story, a stroll through the Museum, hands-on postal play, and more. Together, we’ll explore mail and all the ways it connects us to people, places, and big ideas.
Stop by anytime—whether you stay for one activity or the whole session, this program will get everyone’s “stamp of approval”.
Meet in the Museum Lobby.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Free weekly tours of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are offered every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. from April 30 through September 26, 2025, weather permitting.
Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign near the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, Meet at the northwest entrance to the garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
DC | Sweetheart Dancers
One-Time Events
Watch Sean and Adrian challenge the rulebook of the Native American Sweetheart Special as they attempt to compete in a powwow’s annual couples’ competition. Dancing not only against the other dancers, but against the drums of oppression and closed-mindedness, this couple is determined to rewrite the rules of "one man, one woman" with their resplendent charisma, character and resilience. Director: Ben-Alex Dupris (Colville), USA, 2019, 13 min.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: Free.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style
Resident Associate Program
Scottish architect, designer, and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a major figure in the Glasgow Style, Scotland’s version of Art Nouveau and Symbolism. Mackintosh believed architects were responsible for every detail of the design of their buildings, and his interiors reflect this approach. Cultural historian Robyne Calvert introduces Mackintosh’s work, with a focus on the influential collaborative interiors he created alongside his wife, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263578?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263578?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
DC | Sweetheart Dancers
One-Time Events
Watch Sean and Adrian challenge the rulebook of the Native American Sweetheart Special as they attempt to compete in a powwow’s annual couples’ competition. Dancing not only against the other dancers, but against the drums of oppression and closed-mindedness, this couple is determined to rewrite the rules of "one man, one woman" with their resplendent charisma, character and resilience. Director: Ben-Alex Dupris (Colville), USA, 2019, 13 min.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: Free.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. All Shall Be Well
Films
Watch the trailer
This drama tenderly explores late-life queer romance and what comes after a partner's unexpected death, as director Ray Yeung returns to the milieu of Twilight’s Kiss (a.k.a. Suk Suk).
The film begins with serene scenes of easygoing lesbian life partners Angie (Patra Au Ga Man) and Pat (Maggie Li Lin Lin). Pat's sudden death leaves Angie grief-stricken—it also upturns her entire life. Without a will or a marriage license from abroad, Angie can't legally claim Pat’s property, including the home they shared. In the disputes over Pat's estate, Pat's family turns from supportive to antagonistic, and Angie must fight for both her rights and her dignity. Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times rightly praised it as “extraordinarily moving . . . brims with compassion and uses a silky light touch.”
(Dir.: Ray Yeung, Hong Kong, 2024, 93 min. DCP, Cantonese with English subtitles), Image Courtesy of Strand Releasing.
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaajune25.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:40 PM.
In Slavery’s Wake Highlights Tour
One-Time Events
Learn about the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. Through powerful artifacts, stories, and interactive displays, this immersive exhibition invites visitors into a global conversation on the continued impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the In Slavery’s Wake exhibition, located on Concourse Level C. Morning tour programs take place at 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2025. It is the only direct-to-consumer farm stand of its kind East of the River in Ward 8.
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 19 - November 22, 2025.*
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt.
*Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1307850759829?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Open Studio: A Summer Stroll
One time events
Dive into summer at the Hirshhorn, where we’re taking inspiration from the best of summer camp—Art School style! Join us every Saturday in June for Open Studio: Color Battle. Drop in and join a color “team,” then make your own colorful artwork inspired by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, and more. Explore color theory and experiment with color mixing to make something unique!
Make your mark! This week, we’re taking inspiration from artist Annette Lemieux and her painting Nomad (1988). Design your own stamp, bring your stamp to life with your favorite color, and enter the Color Battle.
Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in to explore modern and contemporary art through interactive hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.
Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on art-making. Activities are designed…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio , About Hirshhorn Kids , Art School Everywhere , Art Project: Walk This Way.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Joy of African Movement
One-Time Events
Mentally and physically recharge with our Joy of African Movement series using a variety of dance movements from the African diaspora, including Capoeira, Contemporary Dance, Stepping, Hip Hop, and Traditional West African Dance.
On Saturday, June 7, join choreographer and dancer Emerald Holman to learn Stepping! Learn the history of the dance style throughout the workshop as you work on basic, family friendly steps and a sequence for participants to practice. Emerald Holman, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a BFA in dance and choreography, is a professional performer and teaching artist.
Join us on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30am-11:45am from June through November for our Joy of African Movement series! Saturday June 7, 10:30am-11:45am , Saturday July 5, 10:30am-11:45am , Saturday August 2, 10:30am-11:45am , Saturday September 6, 10:30am-11:45am , Saturday October 4, 10:30am-11:45am , Saturday November 1, 10:30am-11:45am, Ages: 16+.
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Sylvia Williams Gallery (Sublevel 1). Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joy-of-african-movement-tickets-1368550945719?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM.
WILD! Nature Play Club
One-Time Events
Presented as a pilot program by the National Zoological Park’s Little Critters: Nature Play, our WILD Nature Play Club will meet on the first Saturday of every month at the Anacostia Community Museum where we will explore the half-mile loop trail right next to the museum.
Join us for unstructured play time in nature as well as a child-directed hike through the George Washington Carver Nature Trail. At the end of the hike, we will gather together for a story and nature activity then head back to the museum. Come prepared for our time together by dressing for the weather, bringing an extra pair of clothes, closed-toe shoes, water, and a snack!
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-nature-play-club-tickets-1349692589869?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. In Slavery’s Wake Highlights Tour
One-Time Events
Learn about the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. Through powerful artifacts, stories, and interactive displays, this immersive exhibition invites visitors into a global conversation on the continued impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the In Slavery’s Wake exhibition, located on Concourse Level C. Afternoon tour programs take place at 1:15 PM and 2:30 PM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:15 PM – 3:45 PM.
Coffee & Collections: Portrait of a Hatmaker
One-Time Events
Affectionately known as DC’s Hat Lady, Vanilla Beane (1919-2022) spent a lifetime creating intricate, one-of-a-kind toppers for prominent local and national figures. For over forty years, her shop in the Manor Park neighborhood served as a hub of fashion and community. Join us for a discussion with painter Benjamin Ferry, who created a portrait of Ms. Beane now in the museum’s collection.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coffee-collections-portrait-of-a-hatmaker-tickets-1349695167579?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Author Talk: Architecture and Preservation of Historical Sites in Ethiopia
One-Time Events
Join architect, author, and professor Fasil Giorghis in conversation with Heran Sereke-Brhan, National Museum of African Art Deputy Director!
Fasil Giorghis is an Associate Professor in the College of Business and Economics at Addis Ababa University. A scholar of the preservation of the architectural heritage of Ethiopia, Giorghis has contributed articles on sustainable architecture and the preservation of cultural heritage. In 2008, he published his book Addis Ababa the City and its Urban and Architectural Heritage from 1886-1941.
His architectural design work combines local materials, indigenous knowledge, and environmental concerns in contemporary design. His restoration of historic buildings in Ethiopia includes the Red Terror Memorial Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Aksum St. Mary of Tsion Church, St. Gabriel Church, and the National Palace.
Giorghis is a founding member of the Ethiopian Heritage Trust, and President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Ethiopia. In 2024 he received a…
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Lecture Hall, Sublevel 2. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-talk-architecture-and-preservation-of-historical-sites-in-ethiopia-tickets-1353385074189?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
For more info visit africa.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, June 8, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 8, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 8, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Sunday, June 8, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Science on a Sphere
One-Time Events
Come explore our blue planet with NMNH Ocean Educators. Through NOAA’s Science on a Sphere technology, you’ll encounter a series of interactive visualizations projected on the Sant Ocean Hall’s giant globe. Watch sea turtles migrate coast to coast, track ships through global waters in real-time, explore the changing climate patterns shaping our planet, and much more!
Photo credit: Jennifer Renteria, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the National Portrait Gallery. Join educators every Monday to explore a new topic and different materials. Participants will look at art, enjoy hands-on activities, listen to music and participate in story time. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other. Our friends from DC Public Library will join us on the second Monday of each month for a special story time about the day’s theme.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Regsitration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Defending San Francisco Bay
Resident Associate Program
San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area contains an outdoor museum of fortifications that waited for wars that never happened and enemies that never came. Historian John A. Martini surveys a history that spans from the Presidio’s colonial-era fortifications to a chain of Nike missile sites armed with nuclear weapons during the Cold War. All obsolete, the fortifications’ legacy is the stunning parklands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263557?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263557?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Mineral Rainbow
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
On Tuesday, June 10th, we will be exploring color with minerals! Come play, make art, and make up-close observations of colorful mineral specimens.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5), their caregivers, and families
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. Image: Tectosilicate Mineral Amethyst
Image copyright:…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Coral Reef Tank Talk
One-Time Events
Swim by the Sant Ocean Hall to meet some of the coral reef species that call the Smithsonian NMNH home! Hosted by an Ocean Educator, this interactive cart experience will walk you through the world of saltwater fish, coral colonies, and invertebrates galore!
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
One-Time Events
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.
Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
Art Meets Music: A Duet of Visual Artists and Composers
Resident Associate Program
Music and the visual arts have always been intertwined. For millennia, artists have obsessed about how to represent music’s invisible beauty, just as composers have sought to render art’s vibrant colors in pure sound. From Chagall’s set and costume designs for opera to artists who were also instruments, lecturer and concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores the intimate relationship between the visible and invisible arts in a 4-session series.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263598?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263598?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Volcanic Eruption: How Far the Ash Will Fly
One-Time Events
When volcanoes erupt, they can send ash high up in the atmosphere. The ash can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers, affecting climate and threatening aviation. What allows ash to travel so far? Come talk to Miraz Hossain, volcanology grad student, learn about volcanic eruptions and their deposits, and how scientists study volcanic ash.
Presented by: Miraz Hossain, volcanology graduate student, Washington State University, Image Credit: Betsy Yount, 1986 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Geology, Gems, and Minerals Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Events: This event will repeat on the following dates and times:
Wednesday, June 11, 2025: 11:00 a.m.-12:30p.m. and 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Thursday June 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Capodimonte Museum
Resident Associate Program
Located in Naples, Italy, the Capodimonte Museum is one of the largest museums in Italy. Housed in the museum is the Galleria Nazionale, which features one of the best repositories of Neapolitan painting and decorative art as well as works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titan, El Greco, Artemisia Gentileschi, and many others. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero highlights this lesser-known art museum’s impressive and expansive collection. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263503?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263503?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Sherlock Holmes: A Sleuth's Legacy in a Modern World
Resident Associate Program
Why does Sherlock Holmes remain such an intriguing figure generations after his debut? English professor Kristopher Mecholsky highlights his origins and worldwide popularity. He also focuses a magnifying glass on his unique impact on contemporary fans—who are fascinated by searching for clues to whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless detective would be classified as neurodivergent today.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263579?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263579?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Spitfires: American Women Pilots in World War II
Resident Associate Program
Women pilots were denied the chance to fly when the United States entered the Second World War. But in 1942, Great Britain welcomed 25 young aviators who became the first American women to command military aircraft. Author Becky Aikman highlights the stories of several of these “spitfires, ” their exciting and often-terrifying work, and how they broke new ground off duty as well.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263599?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263599?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
National History Day Exhibit Showcase
One-Time Events
Open spaces on all three floors will be taken over by 50 table-top displays created by middle and high school students competing in the 2025 National History Day national contest. Their exhibits represent topics relevant to their state and local communities and reflect the 2025 theme of “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Join us to view their exhibits and interact with students. This showcase is free and open to the public.
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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 East, 2 East, 2 West, 3 East. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
DC | In Language There is Life
One-Time Events
On Wednesday, June 11, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) will host a special “In Language There is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” Showcase. This showcase will feature middle and high school students from Hawai‘i who completed a National History Day project in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and qualified at the Hawaiʻi affiliate contest. These students were invited to Washington, D.C. to share their work with a national audience. Their projects show perspectives and understanding vital to their culture and support larger community efforts that give life to Indigenous languages.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1, Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Storytime Studio: Wear Your Crown
One time events
Add color to your summer this June at the Hirshhorn! Each Wednesday at Storytime, you’ll find new opportunities for your littlest artist to brighten our world. Explore art, tell vibrant stories, and make your own colorful creations.
This Week: Join us to explore the vibrant work of street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and discover the meaning behind the crowns that often appear in his art! Use bright colors to create your own wearable crown.
Featured Book: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
Program Schedule
Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience, with entry times at 10 AM and 11 AM. No registration is required. Visitors receive their entry time upon arrival. Depending on availability, you may be asked to enjoy the galleries prior to your start time. 10 AM–noon: Open play (felt, blocks, sketching) , 10:15 AM: Read-aloud #1 in Art School , 10:30 AM: Art-making begins , 10:45 AM: Gallery tour #1 , 11:15 AM: Read-aloud #2 in Art School , 11:30 AM: Art-making…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Clothing Composition.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Free weekly tours of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are offered every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. from April 30 through September 26, 2025, weather permitting.
Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign near the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, Meet at the northwest entrance to the garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Volcanic Eruption: How Far the Ash Will Fly
One-Time Events
When volcanoes erupt, they can send ash high up in the atmosphere. The ash can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers, affecting climate and threatening aviation. What allows ash to travel so far? Come talk to Miraz Hossain, volcanology grad student, learn about volcanic eruptions and their deposits, and how scientists study volcanic ash.
Presented by: Miraz Hossain, volcanology graduate student, Washington State University, Image Credit: Betsy Yount, 1986 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Geology, Gems, and Minerals Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Events: This event also occurs on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, June 10, 2025: 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, June 11, 2025: 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Thursday June 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
One-Time Events
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.
Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
National History Day Performance Showcase
One-Time Events
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will feature select performances starring and created by middle and high school students for the 2025 National History Day national contest. Join us for these performances that will highlight a range of under-told stories in American history that reflect the 2025 theme of “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” This showcase is free and open to the public.
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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible and ASL services will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Hall of Music. Cost: Free. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
Volcanic Eruption: How Far the Ash Will Fly
One-Time Events
When volcanoes erupt, they can send ash high up in the atmosphere. The ash can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers, affecting climate and threatening aviation. What allows ash to travel so far? Come talk to Miraz Hossain, volcanology grad student, learn about volcanic eruptions and their deposits, and how scientists study volcanic ash.
Presented by: Miraz Hossain, volcanology graduate student, Washington State University, Image Credit: Betsy Yount, 1986 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Geology, Gems, and Minerals Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Events: This event also occurs on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, June 10, 2025: 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, June 11, 2025: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Thursday June 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
The Ballad of Narayama
Films
This haunting, kabuki-inflected version of a Japanese folk legend is set in a remote mountain village where food is scarce. Tradition dictates that citizens who have reached their seventieth year must be carried to the summit of Mount Narayama and left there to die. The sacrificial elder at the center of the tale is Orin (Kinuyo Tanaka), a dignified and dutiful woman who spends her dwindling days securing the happiness of her loyal, widowed son with a respectable new wife.
Filmed almost entirely on cunningly designed studio sets in brilliant color and widescreen, The Ballad of Narayama is a stylish and vividly formal work from Japan’s cinematic golden age, directed by the dynamic Keisuke Kinoshita. (Description adapted from Janus Films.)
(Dir.: Keisuke Kinoshita, Japan, 1958, 98 min. Blu-ray, Japanese with English subtitles), Image courtesy of Janus Films.
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaamatinees.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
A Walking Tour of “Untitled” (America)
One-Time Events
What does a portrait of America look like? In the exhibition “Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return,” “Untitled” (America) (1994) comprises twelve light strings that are shown in different configurations across locations inside and outside the museum, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
Please join exhibition co-curators Charlotte Ickes, curator of time-based media and special projects at the National Portrait Gallery, and Josh T Franco, head of collecting at the Archives of American Art, for a special walking tour of Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s “Untitled” (America) (1994). Participants will discuss the connections between democracy, labor, change and the site-specific installation of the work.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-a-walking-tour-of-untitled-america-tickets-1115931855219?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Mogao Grottos
Resident Associate Program
The Mogao Grottos of China—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—are often referred to as an “art gallery in the desert.” For more than a thousand years, kings, merchants, monks, and nuns called the nearby desert oasis of Dunhuang home. Not far from town they sponsored the excavation and decoration of nearly 500 caves with paintings that depicted Buddhist iconography, local folktales, and life along the Silk Road. Historian Justin M. Jacobs traces the history of the grottos, analyzes the paintings, and discusses the controversial fate of a secret “cave library.”.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263504?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263504?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
The Thorne Rooms: Magical Miniatures
Resident Associate Program
The Thorne Miniature Rooms are a collection of 68 interiors at the Art Institute of Chicago. Crafted on a 1:12 scale by Narcissa Niblack Thorne and her colleagues in the 1930s and ’40s, each recreates in perfect detail a room from the 16th to the 20th century. Author Marianne Malone delves into the history of Thorne’s project and how her childhood obsession with it inspired her series for young readers set in the magical world of the Thorne Rooms. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263548?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263548?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
The Harvey Girls and the Ladies of the Canyons: Uncovering Women’s History in the Southwest
Resident Associate Program
Author Lesley Poling-Kempes brings to life the adventures of two groups of lesser-known women whose legacies helped shape the American Southwest: the thousands of young women who became waitresses in Harvey House restaurants along the Santa Fe Railway from the 1880s to the 1950s and four women who journeyed to the Southwest in the early 20th century and found their lives transformed by its people, landscapes, and cultures—particularly Native American art and music.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263558?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263558?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superbird!: Exploring super senses in seabirds
One-Time Events
Seabirds are remarkable creatures with unique adaptations for life at sea, which sets them apart from the birds we see on land. Interested in learning how these birds navigate vast oceans with no landmarks or why some are known as tube-noses? Dive into the super-sensory world of seabirds to discover their incredible sense of smell, sensitive eyesight, and impressive navigation skills.
Presented by: Brianna Law and Jess Kusher, Marine Ecologists and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Photos by Brianna Law and Jess Kusher.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Tails of the Ocean: Tracking and Identifying Whales
One-Time Events
Dive into the depths of the ocean and embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries of the world's most majestic marine mammals. Learn what makes whales unique, from their flippers to their songs, and how to tell them apart. Follow the whales as they migrate around the world, and find out how you can help keep them safe.
Presented by: Dr. Dawn Parry and Julia Wente, Marine Biologists and Educators, NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Fellows
Photographs courtesy of the presenters, Dawn Parry (left) and Julia Wente (right).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Volcanic Eruption: How Far the Ash Will Fly
One-Time Events
When volcanoes erupt, they can send ash high up in the atmosphere. The ash can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers, affecting climate and threatening aviation. What allows ash to travel so far? Come talk to Miraz Hossain, volcanology grad student, learn about volcanic eruptions and their deposits, and how scientists study volcanic ash.
Presented by: Miraz Hossain, volcanology graduate student, Washington State University, Image Credit: Betsy Yount, 1986 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Geology, Gems, and Minerals Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Events: This event also occurs on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, June 10, 2025: 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, June 11, 2025: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 pm. and 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Sketch Break
One-Time Events
Join us for a sketching session in our galleries. Create, connect and sketch with fellow artists while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Participants can expect guided instruction from an artist educator before heading into the galleries to sketch on their own. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up. All materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own sketchbooks.
Event Location: In the Galleries. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-sketch-break-tickets-991180235767?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. U.S. Air Force Max Impact Band presents American Pop Music
One-Time Events
Max Impact, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Featuring six active-duty musicians, Max Impact regularly presents high-intensity performances throughout the nation and abroad. The ensemble supports events at the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, and numerous other high-level military and civilian functions to advance international diplomacy with America’s allies and strategic partners.
In addition to entertaining military and civilian audiences in the United States, Max Impact thrills service members with its trademark hard-rocking musical versatility at forward-deployed locations. These performances are a much-needed "taste of home" that bolster troop morale and esprit de corps for military members stationed worldwide. Additionally, the band supports the Air Force and its local communities by creating innovative projects and performances that capitalize on the latest in multimedia music product…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Flag Hall. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: The Price of Freedom—Americans at War. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
U.S. Air Force Max Impact Band presents American Pop Music
One-Time Events
Max Impact, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Featuring six active-duty musicians, Max Impact regularly presents high-intensity performances throughout the nation and abroad. The ensemble supports events at the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, and numerous other high-level military and civilian functions to advance international diplomacy with America’s allies and strategic partners.
In addition to entertaining military and civilian audiences in the United States, Max Impact thrills service members with its trademark hard-rocking musical versatility at forward-deployed locations. These performances are a much-needed "taste of home" that bolster troop morale and esprit de corps for military members stationed worldwide. Additionally, the band supports the Air Force and its local communities by creating innovative projects and performances that capitalize on the latest in multimedia music product…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor, Flag Hall. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: The Price of Freedom—Americans at War. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Tiny Vampires: The Unique World of Freshwater Mussels
One-Time Events
Freshwater mussels are a diverse family of shellfish that can be found in most freshwater systems in the United States. Blending into the stream floor, these unsuspecting shellfish lead an interesting life. Their life cycle involves a parasitic stage, in which they live on the gills of fish. Come discover the unique world of freshwater mussels!
Presented by: Dr. Rachael Finigan, Aquatic Ecologist, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, NOAA National Sea Grant Office
Photos courtesy of Rachael Finigan.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with DC’s Different Drummers
One-Time Events
Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances in the Kogod Courtyard. DC’s Different Drummers, an LGBTQ+ non-profit music organization, brings their DCDD Jazz Band, a 23-piece big band and a small improvisational combo called 2nd Independence, to perform a selection of jazz arrangements of popular Pride anthems, past and present.
Borrow a board game to play during the concert and stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase refreshments.
Image Credit: Photo courtesy DC's Different Drummers.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free | Registration encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1iXm5.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Virtual Portrait Signs
One-Time Events
Portrait Signs is a Deaf-led tour in American Sign Language. Tours explore portraiture, history and biography through the lens of our special exhibitions and permanent collection. Dates and topics are continually updated.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Online Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/national-portrait-gallery-810710525. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/national-portrait-gallery-810710525. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Cleopatra Unveiled
Resident Associate Program
Cleopatra would have been a social media star if she lived today. Known for charisma, she was more renowned for her intellect and her ruthless determination to rule. She embraced both Caesar and Mark Antony as protectors and lovers when the need arose and murdered siblings to gain power. Historian Barry Strauss highlights Cleopatra’s complex role as an absolute ruler at a crucial moment when Romans and Egyptians fought for domination.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263580?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263580?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World
Resident Associate Program
Art played a pivotal role during the dawn of European natural history in the 16th and 17th centuries. Advancements in scientific technology, trade, and colonial expansion allowed naturalists to study previously unknown and overlooked insects, animals, and other beestjes: “little beasts” in Dutch. Curators of the National Gallery of Art’s exhibition “Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World, ” share an exhibition overview and a closer look at the artists and ideas that it highlights. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263547?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263547?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
In Slavery’s Wake Highlights Tour
One-Time Events
Learn about the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. Through powerful artifacts, stories, and interactive displays, this immersive exhibition invites visitors into a global conversation on the continued impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the In Slavery’s Wake exhibition, located on Concourse Level C. Morning tour programs take place at 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM.
Conversation Circles
One-Time Events
Calling all English-language learners – Join National Portrait Gallery educators and friends from all over the world to learn about U.S. art, history and culture through portraiture. Meet new friends, learn about different cultures and practice your English. For more information, email Beth Evans at evansb@si.edu.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. No Registration Required.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Story Time
One-Time Events
Stamp your calendar for Story Time! Join us every week for a fresh story, a stroll through the Museum, hands-on postal play, and more. Together, we’ll explore mail and all the ways it connects us to people, places, and big ideas.
Stop by anytime—whether you stay for one activity or the whole session, this program will get everyone’s “stamp of approval”.
Meet in the Museum Lobby.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Iconic Capitol Hill
Resident Associate Program
Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill is rich in political and architectural history. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a tour of the iconic neighborhood. Hear stories about the original city plan by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the tumultuous construction of the U.S. Capitol, the rise of the magnificent Beaux Arts Library of Congress, and the backstory of the imposing Supreme Court building. And learn about the influence of prolific designers like Thomas Jefferson, Robert Mills, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Daniel Burnham.
Event Location: Tour meets inside the Main Hall of Union Station (under big clock). Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263612?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Free weekly tours of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are offered every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. from April 30 through September 26, 2025, weather permitting.
Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign near the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, Meet at the northwest entrance to the garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Diversión Storytime: “Plátanos Go with Everything / Los plátanos van con todo” (11am-12pm & 1:30-2:30pm)
American Latino Museum
Note: The first storytime is from 11am-12pm and the second storytime is from 1:30-2:30pm. Plátanos Go with Everything/Los plátanos van con todo introduces readers to the wonderful world of plantains and their role in many tasty Dominican dishes. Get ready to be inspired to cook some yummy plantains!
This English-Spanish children's book is written by Lissette Norman and illustrated by Sara Palacios.
The story will be read in both English and Spanish.
This event is recommended for visitors aged 3 to 10.
For ASL interpretation, please email us at nmalgroupreservations@si.edu at least one week in advance.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: General Motors Learning Lounge, Molina Family Latino Gallery. Cost: Free. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife
Resident Associate Program
Death is the one thing all humans throughout history have in common, and yet it is still a mystery. Robert Garland, a professor emeritus of classics, explores the death-related beliefs and practices of a range of ancient cultures and traditions, including Egyptian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, early Christian, and Islamic. Garland puts himself in the sandals of ancient peoples and imagines how they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life’s greatest mystery.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263505?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263505?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Rhône Rangers: Rhône Varieties from Around the World
Resident Associate Program
There's a reason that the native grape varieties of the Rhône Valley are propagated throughout the world. These hardy warm-climate grapes are becoming even more important as climate change causes winemakers to rethink the wines they produce. Sample some of the most prolific Rhône varieties from countries near and far with the help of sommelier Erik Segelbaum.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263298?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263298?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2025. It is the only direct-to-consumer farm stand of its kind East of the River in Ward 8.
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 19 - November 22, 2025.*
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt.
*Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1307850759829?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Growing Community: Composting
One-Time Events
Join us as guest educator Najwa Womack of Sistained8 us teaches everything we need to know about how to compost, what's compostable, and the best ways to contribute to creating healthy soil.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-community-sistained8-compost-tickets-1248183613789?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Open Studio: Make It, Wear It
One time events
Dive into summer at the Hirshhorn, where we’re taking inspiration from the best of summer camp—Art School style! Join us every Saturday in June for Open Studio: Color Battle. Drop in and join a color “team,” then make your own colorful artwork inspired by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, and more. Explore color theory and experiment with color mixing to make something unique!
Brighten your day—and your wardrobe! Take inspiration from artist Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painted lab coat Untitled (MAN MADE), on view in the Art School. Join the Color Battle by decorating a bandana with the vibrant hues of your color team.
Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level, ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in to explore modern and contemporary art through interactive hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.
Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Art School Everywhere, Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Shakespeare’s Reinvention of Poetry: The Story of His Sonnets
Resident Associate Program
Shakespeare’s Sonnets offer a remarkable example of his poetic genius and the revolutionary use of language that also marks his legendary work as the author of such plays as Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. Literature professor Joseph Luzzi takes a close look at the sonnets’ poetic elements, themes, and techniques. He also compares Shakespeare the sonnet writer to other illustrious practitioners of the form, including John Milton and Francis Petrarch.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263535?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263535?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Story Time
American Indian Museum NY
Families are invited to an interactive story time on the second Saturday of each month* 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. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
Tarnation! Featuring Saïs Kamalidiin (Vocals, Harmonica, etc.) & Leonard Brown (Vocals, Guitar, etc.) - Blues music styles from 1940s - 1970s
One-Time Events
For the Smithsonian Museum of American History presentation, the music to be presented will be a set of Blues music styles from the 1940s - 1970s. The music will reflect the musical styles of Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and others. The regional styles to be presented will be Mississippi Delta Blues, The Piedmont Blues, Texas Blues and Chicago Blues.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Coulter Plaza, 1st Floor West. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: National Museum of American History Archives Center, 1 West
Treasures and Trouble: Looking inside a legendary Blues archives of Robert "Mack" McCormick.
McCormick amassed a trove of research materials, writings, photographs and field recordings journaling the blues. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Duct Tape Wallets with Rain Young
One-Time Events
Get ready for a fun and creative workshop where you’ll design and craft your own wallet, zipper bag, or tote bag—all using duct tape! With a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, participants will learn how to cut, fold, and layer duct tape to create a stylish and functional accessory. This hands-on workshop is perfect for kids and adults alike, making it a great way to welcome the spring season with a fresh, handmade creation. No prior experience is needed—just bring your creativity and get ready to have fun! This workshop is suitable for ages 7 and up. All materials are provided.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/duct-tape-wallets-with-rain-young-tickets-1349728778109?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
CANCELLED - Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Tarnation! With Saïs Kamalidiin (Vocals, Harmonica, etc.) & Leonard Brown (Vocals, Guitar, etc.) - Blues music styles from 1940s - 1970s
One-Time Events
For the Smithsonian Museum of American History presentation, the music to be presented will be a set of Blues music styles from the 1940s - 1970s. The music will reflect the musical styles of Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and others. The regional styles to be presented will be Mississippi Delta Blues, The Piedmont Blues, Texas Blues and Chicago Blues.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Coulter Plaza, 1st Floor West. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: National Museum of American History Archives Center, 1 West
Treasures and Trouble: Looking inside a legendary Blues archives of Robert "Mack" McCormick.
McCormick amassed a trove of research materials, writings, photographs and field recordings journaling the blues. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Story Time
American Indian Museum NY
Families are invited to an interactive story time on the second Saturday of each month* 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. All are welcome. Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver. *Schedule subject to change.
Image: Photo by Matailong Du for the National Museum of the American Indian.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: Free.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
CANCELLED - Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Juneteenth Smudge Stick Lab
One-Time Events
People all over the world have been smudging - or ritualistically burning herbs and botanicals – since the beginning of time. Ditch the search engine and learn how to define the spiritual use of herbs and flowers in the meaningful, holistic approach taught in this Juneteenth edition of the BLK FLWR MRKT Smudge Stick Lab. In this lab, we will be joined by a docent from our museum to lead us in conversation about Juneteenth. You’ll write affirmations, engage in inner-child activities, and learn floral design techniques to customize a Floral Smudge Stick using herbs and flowers.
WARNING: Prepare to be blindfolded.
Please note that this program is not at our museum, but at Eaton Wellness, located at: 1201 K St NW 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005.
Event Location: Eaton Wellness. Cost: $20. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/96686700/juneteenth-smudge-stick-lab-washington-the-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-eaton-wellness.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Happy Together
Films
Watch the trailer
Part of our Wong Kar-wai / Leslie Cheung double feature! Be sure to stay for Days of Being Wild!
This emotionally raw, lushly stylized portrait of a relationship in breakdown is one of the most searing romances of the 1990s. Hong Kong superstars Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung play a couple traveling through Argentina together. But the pair are locked in a turbulent cycle of infatuation and destructive jealousy as they break up, make up, and fall apart again and again. Happy Together empathetically depicts the complex dynamics of a queer relationship on the cusp of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, when the country’s LGBTQ+ community suddenly faced an uncertain future.
Wong crafts a feverish look at the life cycle of a love affair that’s by turns devastating and deliriously romantic. Ace cinematographer Christopher Doyle delivers this film in both luminous monochrome and luscious saturated color. Happy Together is an intoxicating exploration of displacement and desire that swoons with the ache…
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaajune25.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:10 PM.
Days of Being Wild
Films
Watch the trailer
Part of our Wong Kar-wai / Leslie Cheung double feature! Don’t miss Happy Together at 1:30!
In this dreamlike drift through the Hong Kong of the 1960s, a band of wayward twentysomethings pulls together and pushes apart in a cycle of frustrated desire. A disaffected playboy (Leslie Cheung) searches for his birth mother. A lovelorn woman (Maggie Cheung) hopelessly yearns after him. Meanwhile, a policeman (Andy Lau) gets caught in the middle of their turbulent relationship.
Wong Kar-wai’s breakthrough sophomore feature represents the first full flowering of his swooning signature style and kicks off a loosely connected, ongoing cycle that includes In the Mood for Love and 2046. This is Wong's first collaboration with both cinematographer Christopher Doyle, who lends the film its gorgeously gauzy, hallucinatory texture, and actor Tony Leung, who appears briefly in a tantalizing teaser for a never-realized sequel. Days of Being Wild is an exhilarating first expression of Wong’s trademark…
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaajune25.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 3:30 PM – 5:15 PM.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Resident Associate Program
Journey beyond the stars, where campers create and explore planets in a galaxy far, far away. Visits to the Natural History and Air and Space museums and the U.S. Botanic Garden inspire the otherworldly habitats, alien life forms, and artful android models and spacecraft that will fill their own Smithsonian-inspired universe. They also use a bit of movie magic as they create backgrounds and sabers for an interstellar reveal at the end of the week.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262644?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Blast Off!
Resident Associate Program
Campers, pack your space suit and get ready to blast off into outer space! Lead the life of an astronaut for a week and plan your own space journey by learning about a different planet each day. Campers make their own space suits and planetary mobiles, enjoy space ice cream, and take a trip to the Air and Space Museum. A concluding presentation captures their adventures and explorations.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262643?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Fast Flying
Resident Associate Program
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a dragonfly! Have you ever wondered how things fly? And why birds and insects can, but people can’t? Campers visit the Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center, and the National Zoo to discover the science behind flight. They learn about the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, and Charles Lindbergh and their historic flights. They also build wings, paper airplanes, helicopters, and kites and create their own flying prototype.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262640?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Fossil Hunters
Resident Associate Program
Campers explore paleontology from the formation of Earth through the Ice Age. They visit the Deep Time exhibition at the Natural History Museum to discover how paleontologists work and the tools they use. They learn about the Earth’s history, ancient plants and animals, and how changes in climate and environments affected living creatures. They also create timelines, become fossil hunters, and dig for 3D-printed dinosaurs.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262641?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Imagine a Garden
Resident Associate Program
Through the eyes of artists, under the scientific microscope, and through the lens of culture, campers explore the gardens surrounding the Smithsonian museums, on the National Mall, and within the U.S. Botanic Garden. They discover the Smithsonian’s Victory, Butterfly, and Rose Gardens. Campers design a garden, create a terrarium, investigate wriggly critters, and plant and harvest vegetables. The week rounds out with a trip to discover a secret garden in the shadow of the Capitol.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262639?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Ocean Life
Resident Associate Program
Campers dive in and discover the wonders of the watery world as they visit Sant Ocean Hall at the Natural History Museum, the American History Museum, and the National Zoo. Along the way, they learn about the life and cycles of the creatures that live there including sea mammals such as otters, whales, and dolphins. They discover the lore of famous ships and the sea captains who explored the world’s great oceans. Campers build ocean dioramas, coral-reef exhibits, and underwater volcanoes for their Watery World exhibit at the end of the week.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262642?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Painting Explorations
Resident Associate Program
Campers spend the week learning how to draw and paint with watercolors and acrylics, gaining an understanding of techniques and color theory. They study masterworks at the Hirshhorn and the National Gallery of Art, and work “in the field” at the Hirshhorn’s Sculpture Garden, the Castle’s beautiful Haupt Garden, and the U.S. Botanic Garden. They show off the artistic results in a Friday exhibition.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262645?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Pattern Makers
Resident Associate Program
Do you see a pattern here? Campers search for designs in art, architecture, and nature as they explore a variety of traditional and modern printmaking techniques in and around the museums on the National Mall. They express their creativity while experimenting with color, lines, quirky patterns, and whimsical images on potato prints, monoprints, gyotaku (Japanese fish printing), collagraphs, and screen prints (on paper, T-shirts, and bags) to demonstrate that printmaking is indeed a versatile-and fun-art.
Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/262638?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Garden Play: Pollinators!
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens to kick off Pollinator Week with hands-on activities and a story time exploring this month’s Garden Play topic, pollinators! This extra-special Garden Play program will run from 9:30–11:30 AM and the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile will also be stationed at the south entrance to the Pollinator Garden with activities for all ages.
Location: Find us in the Pollinator Garden on the east side of the National Museum of Natural History between Constitution Avenue, NW and Madison Drive, NW.
Garden Play is a drop-in program designed for children ages 2 and up and their caregivers. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but children of all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children.
Please come prepared for an outdoor experience. Wildlife and insects, including bees and mosquitoes, are a part of our gardens. Participants are encouraged to bring water and sun protection.
Activities may be subject to cancellation or modification due to weather…
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Behind the Scenes at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
Resident Associate Program
The largest museum library system in the world, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives holds more than 2 million items. Guided by Smithsonian librarians Jane Quigley and Leslie Overstreet, visit three research collections normally accessible to members of the public by appointment only: the National Museum of Natural History Library, the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, and the John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology. In addition to brief presentations about the collections, selected books—from 16th-century illustrated herbals and accounts of Captain Cook’s voyages to 21st-century works naming new species of plants and animals by Smithsonian scientists—are on display for browsing, questions, and discussion.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Tour meets in the Constitution Ave lobby of the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263861?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the National Portrait Gallery. Join educators every Monday to explore a new topic and different materials. Participants will look at art, enjoy hands-on activities, listen to music and participate in story time. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other. Our friends from DC Public Library will join us on the second Monday of each month for a special story time about the day’s theme.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Regsitration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Behind the Scenes at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
Resident Associate Program
The largest museum library system in the world, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives holds more than 2 million items. Guided by Smithsonian librarians Jane Quigley and Leslie Overstreet, visit three research collections normally accessible to members of the public by appointment only: the National Museum of Natural History Library, the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, and the John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology. In addition to brief presentations about the collections, selected books—from 16th-century illustrated herbals and accounts of Captain Cook’s voyages to 21st-century works naming new species of plants and animals by Smithsonian scientists—are on display for browsing, questions, and discussion.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Tour meets in the Constitution Ave lobby of the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263862?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Unleashing the Power of Music Across Subject Areas | Cultivating Learning
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Join Logan Clark and Jen Mellizo of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to explore Music Pathways, an innovative new teaching tool that illuminates lesser-known corners of music history using the sounds and resources available in the label’s iconic catalog. Together, we will explore the newest Music Pathway, “Listen What I Gotta Say: Women in the Blues,” and learn how to customize these resources to meet academic standards in engaging ways. Whether you teach music, social studies, language arts, or anything in between, you will leave with resources and practical strategies that will help you unleash the power of music in your own classroom.
Program Details:
This is a Zoom webinar with live captioning. You’ll be able to participate using the chat and Q&A, and your camera and mic will be disabled. We’ll record and post the webinar on the Smithsonian Learning Lab’s Events page approximately 72 hours after the session ends.
For general questions, or if we can provide additional accessibility services to support…
Event Location: Online. Cost: Free. Related Events: This interactive webinar is part of “Cultivating Learning,” a professional development series focusing on techniques to use digital museum resources for learning. Visit the Smithsonian Learning Lab’s Events page to find our playlist of past “Cultivating Learning” sessions. Accessibility: Captioning.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
The Sound of Music: The Last Golden Sounds of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Resident Associate Program
Why do we always succumb to this bountiful, joyous, teary-eyed musical that melts even the cynical and leaves everyone singing? The glorious melodies of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s final show never age, and its plot never fails to touch us as it covers everything from music-making to resistance to tyranny. Documentary filmmaker Sara Lukinson, who teaches at New York University, traces how the story went from a German memoir and documentary to a Broadway hit, movie fame, and entertainment immortality.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263600?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263600?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, June 16, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Pollinator Week with the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens for Pollinator Week 2025! Find our Bug Mobile stationed at the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden from 9:30–11:30 AM. Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists will be on hand to talk pollination and engage visitors of all ages in hands-on activities. Discover why pollination matters and what you can do to help pollinators in your community! Activities may be subject to cancellation or modification due to weather conditions. Can’t make it? The Bug Mobile will be buzzing to different gardens throughout Pollinator Week! Monday, June 16, 9:30–11:30 AM: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History , Tuesday, June 17, 9:30–11:30 AM: Northwest entrance to the Enid A Haupt Garden , Wednesday, June 18, 9:30–11:30 AM: Flight Garden at the National Air and Space Museum (west side of the museum) , Friday, June 20, 12:00–2:30 AM: Common Ground: Our American Garden, part of Civic Season programming at the National Museum of American History.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden, near the S. Dillon Ripley Center. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Marvelous Meteorites
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, June 17th, is all about exploring the colors, shapes, and textures of objects from space! Families can learn about and make close observations of meteorites from our collection, explore different colors of planets, and create your own play telescope. Come and join us for a fun time learning through play and exploration!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
One-Time Events
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.
Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France
Resident Associate Program
When Elisabeth of Austria married Emperor Franz Joseph and Eugénie of France married Napoleon III, they became two of the most famous women of the 19th century. Young and beautiful, each represented a new kind of empress—one who rebelled against traditional expectations and restrictions. Historian Nancy Goldstone discusses the lives of these two glamorous women and how they played a pivotal role in ruling their realms.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263581?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263581?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Finding Philosophy in Literature
Resident Associate Program
From Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Notes from a Dead House to Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, literature offers a powerful medium for delving into profound questions about existence, free will, and the essence of reality. Philosophical counselor Samir Chopra examines philosophical themes found in literary genres such as the legal novel, post-apocalyptic fiction, and religious literature as he explores how literature can serve as a tool for moral education and instruction.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263559?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263559?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM.
Pollinator Week with the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens for Pollinator Week 2025! Find our Bug Mobile stationed in the Flight Garden along the west side of the National Air and Space Museum from 9:30–11:30 AM. Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists will be on hand to talk pollination and engage visitors of all ages in hands-on activities. Discover why pollination matters and what you can do to help pollinators in your community! Activities may be subject to cancellation or modification due to weather conditions. Can’t make it? The Bug Mobile will be buzzing to different gardens throughout Pollinator Week! Monday, June 16, 9:30–11:30 AM: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History , Tuesday, June 17, 9:30–11:30 AM: Northwest entrance to the Enid A Haupt Garden , Wednesday, June 18, 9:30–11:30 AM: Flight Garden at the National Air and Space Museum (west side of the museum) , Friday, June 20, 12:00–2:30 AM: Common Ground: Our American Garden, part of Civic Season programming at the National Museum of American History.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Flight Garden along the west side of the National Air and Space Museum. Cost: Free.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Storytime Studio: Dripping in Color
One time events
Add color to your summer this June at the Hirshhorn! Each Wednesday at Storytime, you’ll find new opportunities for your littlest artist to brighten our world. Explore art, tell vibrant stories, and make your own colorful creations.
This Week: Join us to explore color mixing by reading Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung together. Then we’ll visit artist Morris Louis’s artwork Buskin (1959), made by pouring paint onto a canvas, to gain inspiration for our own colorful drip art.
Featured Book: Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung
Program Schedule
Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience, with entry times at 10 AM and 11 AM. No registration is required. Visitors receive their entry time upon arrival. Depending on availability, you may be asked to enjoy the galleries prior to your start time. 10 AM–noon: Open play (felt, blocks, sketching) , 10:15 AM: Read-aloud #1 in Art School , 10:30 AM: Art-making begins , 10:45 AM: Gallery tour #1 , 11:15 AM: Read-aloud #2 in Art School , 11:30 AM: Art-making…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Mini Art Lesson: Red, Yellow, Blue.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Behind the Scenes at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
Resident Associate Program
The largest museum library system in the world, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives holds more than 2 million items. Guided by Smithsonian librarians Jane Quigley and Leslie Overstreet, visit three research collections normally accessible to members of the public by appointment only: the National Museum of Natural History Library, the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, and the John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology. In addition to brief presentations about the collections, selected books—from 16th-century illustrated herbals and accounts of Captain Cook’s voyages to 21st-century works naming new species of plants and animals by Smithsonian scientists—are on display for browsing, questions, and discussion.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Tour meets in the Constitution Ave lobby of the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263863?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Free weekly tours of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are offered every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. from April 30 through September 26, 2025, weather permitting.
Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign near the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, Meet at the northwest entrance to the garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Art in the A.M.
One-Time Events
Inspire early childhood creativity with SAAM during Art in the A.M. Children ages up to 5 years and their caregivers are invited to the museum before hours to learn, connect, and create in the galleries. During this program, participants will explore landscapes and scenes of American life in the Experience America galleries on SAAM’s first floor, followed by a hands-on diorama crafting activity in the MacMillan Education Center.
Image credit: Morris Kantor, Baseball at Night, 1934, oil on linen, 37 x 47 1/4 in. (94.0 x 120.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Morris Kantor, 1976.146.18.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in G Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1jLkT.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:30 AM.
DC | Cradleboards and Crawlers
One-Time Events
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.
Event Location: Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
Art and Fiction
Resident Associate Program
A picture is not only worth a thousand words: It can sometimes inspire a whole invented world. In a 3-session series, art historian Heidi Applegate explores novels in which Thomas Gainsborough, Asher B. Durand, and Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta and their works play roles. She also examines the factual background along with the fiction.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263582?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263582?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
The Ocean Around Us Tour
One-Time Events
Explore the Sant Ocean Hall to learn about some of the exciting animals and habitats featured and how they are connected to your everyday life no matter where you live. This is a 30-minute interactive walking tour where you can meet a North Atlantic Right Whale, find out what is the most productive marine ecosystem, touch coral, and so much more.
Registration is required for this small group tour of up to 10 people. Each visitor may bring up to 3 guests, but the total number of visitors on the tour will be capped at 10.
Photo by Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall, Under the Large Jellyfish. Cost: Free. Registration is required. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Behind the Scenes at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
Resident Associate Program
The largest museum library system in the world, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives holds more than 2 million items. Guided by Smithsonian librarians Jane Quigley and Leslie Overstreet, visit three research collections normally accessible to members of the public by appointment only: the National Museum of Natural History Library, the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, and the John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology. In addition to brief presentations about the collections, selected books—from 16th-century illustrated herbals and accounts of Captain Cook’s voyages to 21st-century works naming new species of plants and animals by Smithsonian scientists—are on display for browsing, questions, and discussion.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Tour meets in the Constitution Ave lobby of the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263864?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Beyond the Frame: An Inside Look at the Portrait Gallery
One-Time Events
Curious about the inner workings of a museum? Ever wondered how conservators care for centuries-old artworks or how lighting designers illuminate exhibitions? Peek behind the curtain at the National Portrait Gallery and hear from staff who work behind the scenes to bring our collection to life. June will focus on museum lighting, July will feature conservation and August will center around art handling.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-frame-an-inside-look-at-the-portrait-gallery-tickets-1334324994979?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Inside Air Force One: The Flying White House
Resident Associate Program
Air Force One is more than a plane: It’s a global symbol of American power and leadership. The gleaming blue-and-white 747 reflects the policies and ideas of each president. Ken Walsh, who traveled more than 200 times aboard Air Force One as a White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, shares what happens in the air—from historic moments to the highs and lows that presidents experience.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263536?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263536?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Harriet Tubman and the Quest for Freedom
Resident Associate Program
Born enslaved on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman seized her freedom in her mid-20s, and selflessly returned to rescue family members and others trapped in slavery. Kelly Hancock of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond explores Tubman’s early life, work as an abolitionist, and exploits during the Civil War, as well as her postwar humanitarian efforts and private life, creating a multifaceted portrait of a remarkable woman.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263560?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263560?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
ONLINE: The Origin of Earth's Oceans (Exploring Space Lecture)
One-Time Events
Seventy-one percent of Earth’s surface is covered in oceans, but did you ever wonder why? Join Kathy Mandt from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as she discusses where Earth's ocean water came from and how we know. Results from the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko suggested that maybe Earth's water didn't come from comets as previously believed. Mandt will share part of the scientific journey to understanding the OG ocean world, Earth! Kathy Mandt is a planetary scientist working in the Goddard Planetary Systems Laboratory. Her research covers a broad range of topics including the origin and evolution of volatiles throughout the solar system and the role of dynamics, chemistry and atmospheric evolution in understanding this. She has spent more than a decade working on planetary missions including ground calibration, operations planning, data analysis and inflight calibration. This lecture series is made possible by the generous support of Aerojet Rocketdyne:…
Event Location: YouTube. Cost: Free with registration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
The Origin of Earth's Oceans (Exploring Space Lecture)
One-Time Events
Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: Gallery 104. Cost: Free with registration. Related Exhibition: Seventy-one percent of Earth’s surface is covered in oceans, but did you ever wonder why? Join Kathy Mandt from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as she discusses where Earth's ocean water came from and how we know. Results from the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko suggested that maybe Earth's water didn't come from comets as previously believed. Mandt will share part of the scientific journey to understanding the OG ocean world, Earth! Kathy Mandt is a… Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
In Slavery’s Wake Highlights Tour
One-Time Events
Learn about the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. Through powerful artifacts, stories, and interactive displays, this immersive exhibition invites visitors into a global conversation on the continued impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Program meets in the In Slavery’s Wake exhibition, located on Concourse Level C. Morning tour programs take place at 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Cost: Free; walk-in
Tours are subject to docent availability; last minute cancellations may occur.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM.
Juneteenth Celebration: Power in the Past, Strength in the Future!
One-Time Events
Join us as we honor Juneteenth with a day full of culture, community, and celebration! From engaging workshops to powerful performances, this event is a tribute to resilience, creativity, and heritage.
🌿 Morning Yoga & Urban Gardening (10 AM - 12 PM)
Start the day with a Morning Yoga by Grounded, followed by an Urban Gardening Workshop that explores the deep-rooted agricultural traditions of African American culture. Participants will:
✅ Discover the historical significance of canning and root cellars
✅ Learn how to plant now for a fall and winter harvest
✅ Get expert tips on container gardening and winter storage
✅ Explore multi-planting techniques for a bountiful harvest
✅ Take home a Root Vegetable Grow Bag and witness a fresh pickle-making demo
Both morning workshops will have limited giveaways! First come, first serve.
🎶 Main Stage Performances (Starting at 12 PM)
The stage comes alive at 12pm, Hosted by BeMo Brown and vibes all day by Miss HER. The incredible lineup of artists and perf…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1351589002089?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
CANCELLED - Drawn to Figures
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Discover your inner artist in this live virtual drawing workshop. Facilitated by artist Jill Galloway, each program will highlight a Portrait Gallery exhibition or a portrait from the collection. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-drawn-to-figures-tickets-880971558647?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Civic Season 2025 Kick-Off
One-Time Events
We’re kicking off our 2025 Civic Season with a chance to meet Katie Costa, the designer of the Wish Wall in our Civic Pavilion. The Civic Pavilion on 2 East will bring Civic Season to life with daily activities. Can’t join us in person? Follow us on social media and get involved with hybrid activities all season long! The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. ASL services, captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 2 East. Cost: Free. Related Events: Learn more about the 2025 Civic Season. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning.
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Sacred Spaces: Baltimore’s Religious Architecture
Resident Associate Program
Home to practitioners of over 20 religions, Baltimore’s spiritual landscape is marked by hundreds of places of worship, each with its own story. Embark on an architectural journey with historian and deacon James Reaves, who showcases the beauty and history of these sacred structures.
Event Location: Departs Mayflower Hotel, DeSales St side 1127 Connecticut Ave NW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263615?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 8:00 AM – 6:15 PM.
Conversation Circles
One-Time Events
Calling all English-language learners – Join National Portrait Gallery educators and friends from all over the world. Together, we’ll use portraiture to learn about U.S. art, history and culture. This program takes place every other week. Meet new friends, learn about different cultures and practice your English. For more information, email Beth Evans at evansb@si.edu.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Cost: Free. No Registration Required.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Story Time
One-Time Events
Stamp your calendar for Story Time! Join us every week for a fresh story, a stroll through the Museum, hands-on postal play, and more. Together, we’ll explore mail and all the ways it connects us to people, places, and big ideas.
Stop by anytime—whether you stay for one activity or the whole session, this program will get everyone’s “stamp of approval”.
Meet in the Museum Lobby.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Free weekly tours of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are offered every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. from April 30 through September 26, 2025, weather permitting.
Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign near the northwest entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, Meet at the northwest entrance to the garden on Jefferson Drive, SW. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
For more info visit gardens.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Ocean Topics Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Looking for a deeper dive into ocean topics? Come and find one of our Ocean Educators to explore some of the latest discoveries in marine science, stationed at an interactive cart in the Sant Ocean Hall.
Image Credit: Phillip R. Lee, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Civic Season 2025: Smithsonian Gardens
One-Time Events
Join us in our Civic Pavilion for programming with Smithsonian Gardens. The Civic Pavilion on 2 East will bring Civic Season to life with daily activities. Can’t join us in person? Follow us on social media and get involved with hybrid activities all season long! The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. ASL services, captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 2 East. Cost: Free. Related Events: Learn more about the 2025 Civic Season. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
The Enduring Art of Venetian Glass
Resident Associate Program
The island of Murano has remained the heart of Venetian glassmaking since the late medieval period. Today, a blend of centuries-old traditions and contemporary experimentation keeps this extraordinary art form alive. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces the rich history of Murano glassmaking, examines influential modern artisans and workshops, and offers insights into the best places in Venice to experience glass artistry today. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263537?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263537?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Pollinator Week with the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens for Pollinator Week 2025! Find our Bug Mobile stationed in Common Ground: Our American Garden near the south entrance to the National Museum of American History from 12:00–2:30 PM. Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists will be on hand to talk pollination and engage visitors of all ages in hands-on activities. Take part in a pollinator count offered in conjunction with Civic Season programming at the National Museum of American History. Discover why pollination matters and what you can do to help pollinators in your community!
Activities may be subject to cancellation or modification due to weather conditions.
Can’t make it? The Bug Mobile will be buzzing to different gardens throughout Pollinator Week! Monday, June 16, 9:30–11:30 AM: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History , Tuesday, June 17, 9:30–11:30 AM: Northwest entrance to the Enid A Haupt Garden , Wednesday, June 18, 9:30–11:30 AM: Flight Garden at the National Air and Space Museum (west side of the museum) , …
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Common Ground: Our American Garden near the south entrance to the National Museum of American History. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 18 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
NY | The Americas Film Festival New York Presents "So Surreal: Behind the Masks"
One-Time Events
Watch a feature documentary that traces the storied journey of Indigenous masks from the far reaches of Turtle Island (North America) into the hands of European Surrealists, influencing the work and worldview of some of the most well-known modern artists and writers of all time including Max Ernst, André Breton, Roberto Matta and Joan Miró – all while following the dramatic quest to return a mask that was brutally stolen from the Kwakwa̱ka̱ ʼwakw people on Canada’s northwest coast over a century ago. Part caper, part road trip, part spiritual journey, So Surreal: Behind the Masks follows Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond (Reel Injun, Red Fever) as he travels coast-to-coast and across the Atlantic and back, gradually piecing together this groundbreaking global story of influence, reconnection and restitution. Directors: Neil Diamond (Cree) and Joanne Robertson, Canada, 2024, 88 min.
Join directors Neil Diamond and Joanne Robertson, and Maria Galban, the museum's Collections Documentation Manager, for a…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Lower Level: Auditorium. Cost: FREE. Accessibility: Captioning.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Funeral Parade of Roses
Films
Watch the trailer
New 4K restoration!
This shattering, kaleidoscopic art film dives headlong into the late 1960s' unseen Tokyo night-world of drag queen bars and fabulous divas, fueled by booze, drugs, fuzz guitars, performance art, and black mascara. Transgender actor Peter (also in Kurosawa's Ran) gives an astonishing Edie Sedgwick/Warhol superstar-like performance as hot-young-thing Eddie. Working as a hostess at Bar Genet, Eddie ignites a violent love triangle with reigning drag queen Leda (Osamu Ogasawara) for the attention of club owner Gonda (played by Kurosawa regular Yoshio Tsuchiya, from Seven Samurai and Yojimbo).
Funeral Parade of Roses is one of the most subversive and intoxicating films of the late 1960s. Here, director Toshio Matsumoto bends and distorts time like Resnais in Last Year at Marienbad. He freely mixes documentary interviews, Brechtian film-within-a-film asides, Oedipal premonitions of disaster, Matsumoto's own avant-garde shorts, and even on-screen cartoon balloons. This dizzying…
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaajune25.eventive.org/films.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Smithsonian Sleepover at the Natural History Museum
Resident Associate Program
In-person Program: Go on an interactive exploration of the Natural History Museum and participate in hands-on crafts projects and games. Then roll out your sleeping bag and dream away in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most famous museums! Geared for children ages 8 to 14 years old, accompanied by an adult.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History 10th St & Constitution Ave NW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263984?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, June 20, 2025, 7:00 PM – Saturday, June 21, 2025, 9:00 AM.
DC | Solstice Saturday
One-Time Events
Celebrate the start of summer with the Smithsonian! The National Museum of the American Indian will be open late with activities for all ages throughout the day, along with performances and gallery talks.
The imagiNATIONS Activity Center and Espresso Bar will be open until 8 PM, and the Roanoke Museum Store will be open until 10 PM. Stay tuned for the full schedule of events!
Visit si.edu/solsticesaturday for more information as it becomes available.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: FREE.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2025. It is the only direct-to-consumer farm stand of its kind East of the River in Ward 8.
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 19 - November 22, 2025.*
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt.
*Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1307850759829?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Open Studio: Drip, Drop!
One time events
Dive into the summer at the Hirshhorn, where we’re taking inspiration from the best of summer camp—Art School style! Join us every Saturday in June for Open Studio: Color Battle. Drop in and join a color “team,” then make your own colorful artwork inspired by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, and more. Explore color theory and experiment with color mixing to make something unique!
Drip, drop! Take inspiration from artist Morris Louis, who experimented with pouring paint onto a canvas in his work Buskin (1959). Let your colors battle it out on the canvas, using paint and gravity to explore color mixing and create your own work of art.
Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in to explore modern and contemporary art through interactive hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.
Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Art School Everywhere, Colorful Coffee Filter Sculpture.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Science Solstice Saturday
Special Zoo Events
On June 21, 2025, the Smithsonian marks the first Saturday of summer—Solstice Saturday—by hosting programs and performances throughout the day and night.
Get ready for a free, fun-filled immersive scientific experience at the Zoo! On Solstice Saturday, visitors can engage with scientists, researchers and animal experts to learn how science is shaping the future of wildlife conservation.
Plus, the Visitor Center will screen a rotating series of short films highlighting conservation work done by Smithsonian researchers.
Visit the National Zoo's website for more information.
Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Various locations throughout the Zoo. Cost: Free.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Iconic Capitol Hill
Resident Associate Program
Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill is rich in political and architectural history. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a tour of the iconic neighborhood. Hear stories about the original city plan by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the tumultuous construction of the U.S. Capitol, the rise of the magnificent Beaux Arts Library of Congress, and the backstory of the imposing Supreme Court building. And learn about the influence of prolific designers like Thomas Jefferson, Robert Mills, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Daniel Burnham.
Event Location: Tour meets inside the Main Hall of Union Station (under big clock). Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263613?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Saturday Story Time
One-Time Events
Join us for a special Saturday Story Time celebrating imagination, storytelling, and the power of books! First, we’ll read A Library by Nikki Giovanni and illustrated by guest artist Erin Robinson. Then, we’ll celebrate how libraries and the worlds within them can take us anywhere!
Program Highlights include: A lively reading of A Library by guest artist Erin Robinson , Hands-on art activities inspired by the story , Cozy story corners for reading more together To request accessibility accommodations please contact us at npmprograms@si.edu.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: National Postal Museum. Cost: Free; no registration required.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Juneteenth Community Day
One-Time Events
This year’s Juneteenth Community Day celebrates resilience and cultural heritage by honoring the lasting legacy of freedom and the vibrant traditions of the African diaspora in the U.S. and the Caribbean. In recognition of both Juneteenth and Caribbean American Heritage Month, the event invites visitors of all ages to experience the rhythms, stories, and flavors that reflect diasporic heritage.
Highlights include an energetic tour of the Caribbean through dance and music, a dynamic Regg’Go performance by Ras Lidj Regg'Go Band, who blends reggae with DC’s Go-Go music, family-friendly Caribbean-inspired instrument-making activities, and a special Juneteenth-Caribbean fusion menu in the Sweet Home Café
Schedule of the Day: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Instrument Making
Recommended Ages 4–8
Fourth Floor Overlook, Guided Drum Circle
Recommended Ages 4–10, Fourth Floor Overlook, 11:15 AM , 12:15 PM , 1:15 PM, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Island Hop Through Caribbean Dance & Music
Juneteenth Soundstage
Heritage Hall, 3:00 PM –…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Various locations. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/79890875/juneteenth-community-day-washington-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-public-programs. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the spring harvest of strawberries in June and July. The celebration often coincides with the full moon. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 18 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Paint, Scoop and Preserve: Make Sweet Memories
One-Time Events
Join us for Paint, Preserve, and Scoop at the National Museum of African American History and Culture with Stapledon Arts.
Making your summer memorable is as easy as 1, 2 ,3! Choose a canvas curated by Charlecia Joy of Stapledon Arts celebrating family heirlooms, traditions, and storytelling. (Multiple designs will be available), Dive into a guided painted journey designed to help you create treasured family memories. Enjoy a scoop (or two) of ice cream while you create a masterpiece. Perfect for all skill levels – No experience necessary.
Don’t miss this sweet opportunity to celebrate Summer Solstice!
All supplies will be provided.
Limited spots available - only 24 per session.
*Two 2-hour sessions will be offered (11:00AM and 3:00PM)
.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor Classrooms. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/92597768/paint-and-scoopmake-sweet-memories-washington-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-audience-engagement.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Civic Season 2025: DC Public Library and American Heritage Chocolate
One-Time Events
Join us in our Civic Pavilion for programming with DC Public Library and American Heritage Chocolate. The Civic Pavilion on 2 East will bring Civic Season to life with daily activities. Can’t join us in person? Follow us on social media and get involved with hybrid activities all season long! The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. ASL services, captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 2 East. Cost: Free. Related Events: Learn more about the 2025 Civic Season. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Let’s Hear it for the Fathers!
One-Time Events
Join us for a heartfelt and creative celebration of Fathers/Father Figures. Hear from poet Joseph Green as he shares an original poem in honor of fathers followed by our “Hand in Hand: Expressive Canvas Art” experience by artist Brian Bailey. This interactive activity will allow participants to pair with a loved one to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake together— a beautiful, layered handprint canvas symbolizing their bond. Interested participants should plan to be on time. Supplies provided.
What to Expect:
Hands-On Art Creation: Participants will press their handprints onto a canvas, layering them to create a lasting memory.
Personal Touches: Participants can add messages, doodles, or decorations to make their artwork extra special.
Quality Time: This activity is designed to foster connection, creativity, and appreciation between loved ones.
A Take-Home Keepsake: Each duo will leave with a meaningful piece of art to cherish forever.
Joseph Green is a storyteller, educator, and narrative disrupter with a pass…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Place SE. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-hear-it-for-the-fathers-tickets-1349917111419?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists – Join the National Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise in various artistic disciplines. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Iconic Capitol Hill
Resident Associate Program
Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill is rich in political and architectural history. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a tour of the iconic neighborhood. Hear stories about the original city plan by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the tumultuous construction of the U.S. Capitol, the rise of the magnificent Beaux Arts Library of Congress, and the backstory of the imposing Supreme Court building. And learn about the influence of prolific designers like Thomas Jefferson, Robert Mills, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Daniel Burnham.
Event Location: Tour meets inside the Main Hall of Union Station (under big clock). Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/263614?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Virtual Gel Plate Printing Workshop: In Slavery's Wake
One-Time Events
In this workshop we’ll explore the foundations of gel plate printing. Gel plate printing uses a soft, reusable plate as a printing surface. The fun of gel plate printing lies in the endless creative possibilities it offers. Participants will experiment with color, texture, image transfer and layering techniques to create colorful, one-of-a-kind prints that can be used for sketchbooks, greeting cards, collage or to decorate the home.
Join Printmaker, Pantera Saint-Montaigne, and a Museum Specialist on this artistic journey to explore NMAAHC’s exhibition “In Slavery’s Wake”.
Gel Plate Printing Kit contains:
• (1) Gel printing plate
• (4) 2oz bottles of water-based acrylic paints
• (1) 2oz bottle of matte medium
• (1) Brayer
• (1) Magnetic hanger frame
• Assorted papers, cardstock and textural elements
• Assorted inkjet and laser print images
• Instruction booklet
Participants should have on hand:
• Tear sheets from glossy magazines of people, places, or things
• Sheets of white printer paper
• Textural ob…
Event Location: Online. Cost: $20. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/49427093/virtual-gel-plate-printing-workshopin-slaverys-wake-washington-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-audience-engagement.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the spring harvest of strawberries in June and July. The celebration often coincides with the full moon. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 18 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Summer Teen Studio: Show Your Colors!
One time events
Teens: Are you ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens (ages 13–18). Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by the Hirshhorn Museum’s collection of modern and contemporary art.
Join the Art School Color Battle. Drop in and join a color “team,” then make your own colorful artwork inspired by artists on view. Take inspiration from artist Morris Louis, who experimented with pouring paint onto a canvas in his work Buskin (1959). Then work collaboratively with other teens! Let your colors battle it out on the canvas, using paint and gravity to explore color mixing.
Teen Studio: Summer Session is the coolest place in town! It’s exclusively for teens to hang out and make art. Drop in anytime between 2:30 and 4pm. Register once for all summer sessions; join one or join them all!
To register, email HMSGeducation@si.edu. Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Teen Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Art School Everywhere, Colorful Coffee Filter Sculpture.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Paint, Scoop and Preserve: Make Sweet Memories
One-Time Events
Join us for Paint, Preserve, and Scoop at the National Museum of African American History and Culture with Stapledon Arts.
Making your summer memorable is as easy as 1, 2 ,3! Choose a canvas curated by Charlecia Joy of Stapledon Arts celebrating family heirlooms, traditions, and storytelling. (Multiple designs will be available), Dive into a guided painted journey designed to help you create treasured family memories. Enjoy a scoop (or two) of ice cream while you create a masterpiece. Perfect for all skill levels – No experience necessary.
Don’t miss this sweet opportunity to celebrate Summer Solstice!
All supplies will be provided.
Limited spots available - only 24 per session.
*Two 2-hour sessions will be offered (11:00AM or 3:00PM).
.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor Classrooms. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/84213859/paint-and-scoopmake-sweet-memories-washington-national-museum-of-african-american-history-culture-audience-engagement.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Solstice Saturday at the National Museum of African Art
One-Time Events
Solstice Saturday continues African Art’s Live Arts Series “The Earth Still Shakes!” Through musical performances by Inka Kendzia, Sio, and Asna, the series will reflect the spiritual shudders that abound in performance, activism, and actions, and the ways that artists talk through their bodies to express their connections to objects, the natural world, and the cosmos. These live performances will animate and breathe life into the Museum’s collections.
Experience some of the arts and offerings of Burundi, including a marketplace, a basket weaving workshop, and the vibrant rhythms of Burundi’s royal drums and captivating elegance of traditional dance!
Enjoy drinks for purchase! Visit the African Art Gift Shop which will be open until 10pm!
4PM–9PM, Haupt Garden
Burundi Marketplace
4PM–9PM, Education Workshop (Sublevel 2)
Burundi Basket Weaving Workshop
6PM–7PM, Lecture Hall (Sublevel 2)
Panel Discussion with Jay Pather, Inka Kendzia, Sio, Asna, Burundi Drummer
7:15PM & 9PM, Haupt Garden
Burundi Royal…
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Throughout the museum. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solstice-saturday-at-national-museum-of-african-art-tickets-1393073292719?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 4:00 PM – 11:55 PM.
For more info visit africa.si.edu. Asia After Dark | Solstice Saturday
Performances
Register in advance to get the best experience.
Celebrate the longest day of the year with after-hours access to the museum! DJ FISH HOUSE FUNK will be serving up disco, house, and funky beats on the museum’s plaza. Meanwhile, you can experience our exhibitions in a new light with exclusive curator tours throughout the evening. Even the museum store will be open late for shopping!
Schedule, Food and Beverage 5–9 p.m.: Bar by Restaurant Associates,
Performance 6–9 p.m.: DJ set with DJ FISH HOUSE FUNK,
Tours 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.: Curator tour of Cut + Paste: Experimental Japanese Prints and Photographs with Carol Huh , 6 p.m.: Curator tour of The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas with Emma Stein,
Learn about more Solstice Saturday events happening across the Smithsonian. National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, photo by Sonya Pencheva.
Venue: Freer Gallery of Art. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Event Location: National Museum of Asian Art, Freer Plaza. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376306492769?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Sally's Night at Solstice Saturday
One-Time Events
Celebrate the anniversary of Sally Ride becoming the first American woman in space with our annual Sally's Night event! Enjoy activities that explore the wonder of our universe and shine a light on women in STEM.
Inside the Museum - Free passes required Test your knowledge with trivia challenges , Experience planetarium and laser light shows , Talk to scientists and historians from the museum (and maybe even a Sally Ride interpreter!) , Go on a scavenger hunt to discover women's stories in the museum , Enjoy hands-on activities like postcard writing and mission patch design, Outside the Museum - No passes required Stargaze with our astronomy educators, who will help you observe a variety of features in the night sky , Located on the West Terrace near the Delta Solar sculpture from 9 to 11 pm.
Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: Throughout location. Cost: Free, tickets required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/33668337/.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu.