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Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Due to inclement weather, Wonderplace will open at 12 noon on Friday, January 19, pending staff availability. We will update this entry if the operating status for Wonderplace changes. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis.At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Big Moments, Little Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the power of storytelling and community through our early learners storytime experience inspired by We Make History! Through engaging stories, interactive gallery moments, and hands-on activities, children and caregivers will explore how everyday people, neighborhoods, and changemakers shape history in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Together, young learners will build curiosity and creativity.
Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years
Time and Schedule: 10: 30 a.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-tickets-1990727334045?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Freedmen's Bureau Search Portal Training
One-Time Events
This workshop is an introduction to the Freedmen’s Bureau Search Portal created by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The United States Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was created by Congress in 1865 to assist in the political and social reconstruction of post-war Southern states and to help formerly enslaved people make the transition from slavery to freedom and citizenship. In the process, the Bureau created millions of records that contain the names of hundreds of thousands of formerly enslaved people and Southern white refugees.
Community members will learn how to research their ancestors in the Freedmen’s Bureau records and be able to conduct searches in real time. This comprehensive search platform is designed to help family historians and genealogists find their ancestors and to assist scholars and students in researching various topics found in more than 1.7 million pages of Freedmen’s Bureau records.…
Event Location: Meeting Room, Merriweather Branch Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019d8d40-1cff-0583-d9c4-e50cd09be615?tg=019d8d40-1d04-2c25-d8e9-2d64b0354b2e. Categories: Workshops.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit tickets.si.edu. NY | Curator Tour: Native New York—From the Bronx to Buffalo
One-Time Events
Reflect on 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a special curator-led tour of the ongoing exhibition, Native New York. The Revolutionary War (1775–1783) tested the bonds of the Haudenosaunee (Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations) Confederacy, an alliance of six nations that controlled most of the territory now known as New York State. Neighboring nations were also drawn into the conflict and all were forced to choose sides or try to remain neutral. Learn more about Indigenous history on both frontiers of the war in relation to the Mohican, Oneida, and Cayuga communities and in the war’s aftermath at Buffalo Creek.
Image courtesy of C&G Partners.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2: Exhibition Gallery. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Native New York. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
American Realism
All Programs
American Realism usually refers to the Ashcan School, led by Robert Henri, which portrayed New York City’s gritty life around 1900. But “realism” also describes earlier artists like John Singleton Copley, trompe l’oeil painters such as Rembrandt Peale and William Harnett, and 19th century figures including Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and John Singer Sargent. The term later extended to movements like Socialist Realism and Photo Realism. Art historian Heidi Applegate traces these varied meanings across art history. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-realism?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-realism?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
NY | Curator Tour: Native New York—From the Bronx to Buffalo
One-Time Events
Reflect on 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a special curator-led tour of our ongoing exhibition Native New York. The Revolutionary War (1775–1783) tested the bonds of the Haudenosaunee (Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations) Confederacy, an alliance of six nations that controlled most of the territory now known as New York State. Neighboring nations were also drawn into the conflict and all were forced to choose sides or try to remain neutral. Learn more about Indigenous history on both frontiers of the war in relation to the Mohican, Oneida, and Cayuga communities and in the war’s aftermath at Buffalo Creek.
Image courtesy of C&G Partners.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2: Exhibition Gallery. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Native New York. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
From Seeds to Stories: A Conversation with Christopher DeMairo
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
From horticultural innovations in flower hybrids to inspiring the war and victory gardens of the 20th century, the Burpee company is a staple of American agriculture, and, even 150 years after its founding, Burpee continues to be the world’s largest home garden and seed company. Christopher DeMairo, author of The Burpee Seed Company: Planting U.S. History since the Nineteenth Century published by Smithsonian Scholarly Press, will discuss the history of the Burpee family enterprise and the 200 boxes of archival business records donated to the Smithsonian that detail this family legacy. After the conversation in Stage 4, attendees can join a garden party-style reception in the Atrium.
Event Location: Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. N.W. Washington, DC; for directions visit: https://www.studiotheatre.org/visit/directions-and-parking. Cost: Free, but registration is required due to space limitations. Get Tickets/Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/28553xp. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Maritime Baltimore
All Programs
Beginning with Capt. John Smith’s expedition in 1608 to the upper Chesapeake Bay (the first by a European), through the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814, to the 21st-century cruise liners and cargo vessels that dock there, the Port of Baltimore is one of the country’s preeminent maritime centers. Naval historian Abby Mullen leads a day in the harbor exploring three vessels and celebrating Baltimore’s role as a vital port in maritime history.
Event Location: Departs from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C St SW (corner of 6th & C Sts). Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/maritime-baltimore?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located 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 18 - November 21, 2026.*
You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets.
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: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Open Studio: Touch the Sun
One time events
Beat the heat every Saturday in June at Open Studio! Each week, we’ll take inspiration from the heat of summer and look at artworks by artists such as Nicolas Party, Spencer Finch, Joan Miró and more.
Join us this Saturday as we draw inspiration from Joan Miró and his painting Woman and Little Girl in Front of the Sun (1946), now on view in Revolutions. Miró worked in an abstract style, with references to nature and biomorphic shapes. Inspired by his practice, we’ll experiment with recycled odds and ends to create our own abstract works of art!
Meet in Art School on the Museum’s 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 to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Balance Build.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Soar Together at Air and Space: The Need for Speed
One-Time Events
Get ready for family-friendly hands-on discovery all about speed!
Soar Together is joining forces with one of our most popular events, Innovations of Flight. Here are the details:
Inside the MuseumNo tickets required for activities inside the Museum.
Explore all things speed through playful activities, exciting demonstrations, musical performances and gallery explorations. Get a chance to chat to museum and aerospace experts. Come get curious, experiment together, and see speed in a whole new way!
American Sign Language interpretation available for several activities.
Outside the Museum - Innovations in Flight
Tickets released Thursday, May 14 at 7 pm. Early access for members.
See unique historic and modern aircraft. Talk with pilots of the planes, on display outside the Museum for one day only. Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
Venue: Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Event Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151. Cost: Free. Parking: $15. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Europe 1900: The Golden Ages of Vienna, Paris, and London
All Programs
The year 1900 found three of Europe’s greatest cities entering defining eras in their historical and cultural development. In a richly illustrated program, cultural historian George Scheper explores how the alignment of creative forces shaped a trio of highly distinctive urban milieus—each nourished by the energy and excitement of new ideas and each witnessing the birth of modernism in the coming century. (World Art History Certificate elective,1 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/europe-1900?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/europe-1900?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:15 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. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Converse with a Conservator Gallery Talk: Caring for a Butter Sculpture
One-Time Events
SOLD OUT
How does SAAM care for art made of butter? Objects Conservator Leah Bright shares how temperature control, material science, and preventive care support Curious Regard, a life-size butter cow sculpture created onsite for the special exhibition State Fairs: Growing American Craft at SAAM’s Renwick Gallery.
Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Meet in the Lobby. Cost: SOLD OUT. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3OUZV. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: State Fairs: Growing American Craft.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - Brian Gaffney with Brendan’s Voyage
One-Time Events
The music of Brendan’s Voyage is rooted in the “people’s history”—songs born in cottages, carried across the Atlantic, and kept alive in the social halls and pubs of American cities. Brian Gaffney uses storytelling to bridge the gap between ancient melodies and the modern Irish American experience. Come hear songs that tell the story of Irish history, exploring the immigrant journey, the hardship and resilience that came with fighting the Great Famine and the struggle for independence. Songs may include: “Rosie’s,” “Girl in My Dreams,” and “Song from Home.”.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Signed-Sealed-Delivered: Postcard & Stamp Workshop
One-Time Events
Postcards and postage stamps preserve history in miniature. Design your own postcards and stamps in this hands-on workshop where art meets history. Inspired by our latest exhibition, We Make History, participants of all ages will explore how mail carries history and connects communities. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with photographer and author of District Postcard Views, Shedrick Pelt. Pelt’s photo of Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot of the Go-Go band Experience Unlimited (EU) is featured in the exhibition. All materials are provided.
This program is in collaboration with the National Postal Museum.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/signed-sealed-delivered-postcard-stamp-workshop-tickets-1984635643635?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. 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=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - Brian Gaffney with Brendan’s Voyage
One-Time Events
The music of Brendan’s Voyage is rooted in the “people’s history”—songs born in cottages, carried across the Atlantic, and kept alive in the social halls and pubs of American cities. Brian Gaffney uses storytelling to bridge the gap between ancient melodies and the modern Irish American experience. Come hear songs that tell the story of Irish history, exploring the immigrant journey, the hardship and resilience that came with fighting the Great Famine and the struggle for independence. Songs may include: “Rosie’s,” “Girl in My Dreams,” and “Song from Home.”.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Film Screening & Artist Talk: Man Follows Birds
Films
To celebrate the opening of her exhibition Melted into the Sun, Saodat Ismailova introduces and discusses a classic work of Central Asian cinema, Ali Khamraev's Man Follows Birds. During the Soviet Era, filmmakers balanced the need to promote Soviet ideology with the desire to tell stories unique to their cultures. Khamraev's visual poetry resonates with the work of his contemporaries such as Andrei Tarkovsky and Sergei Parajanov.
In Man Follows Birds, an outcast boy leaves his village to travel with his friend, seeking truth and beauty in nature despite the cruelty and violence of adults. Of the film, Ismailova says, “This coming-of-age story is set in a timeless situation. The script was written by Timur Zulfikarov, a major Tajik author and one of the first to develop a distinctive voice that deviated from Soviet ideology, but wasn’t censored. The music, visual language and actors also make this a great film."
Description adapted from Eye Filmmuseum.
Director: Ali Khamraev. Country: USSR. Released: 1975.…
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-and-artist-talk-man-follows-birds-tickets-1989667539170?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Films. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Teen Studio: Pizza Party!
One time events
Teens: Ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens ages 13–19. Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by artists whose work is now on view at the Hirshhorn.
Celebrate the last Teen Studio of the school year with friends, music, and art! DIY your own buttons, build with Legos, make friendship bracelets, and capture memories in a Polaroid photo booth. Plus, enjoy free pizza and snacks!
Drop in to Teen Studio Saturday between 2:30 and 4 PM. Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level. Teen Studio will be back for the 2026–2027 school year in October.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists in the Hirshhorn collection and get creative any time. Do this at home! Hirshhorn Teens on OSGEMEOS and Hand Lettering, , ABOUT TEEN STUDIO
Teens ages 13–19 are invited to hang out and get creative at the Hirshhorn’s Teen Studio, a free series of art-making workshops offered from…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Teen Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Hirshhorn Teens on OSGEMEOS and Hand Lettering.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:30 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. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 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. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
CANCELLED - Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. 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=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Curator Tours
One-Time Events
Join the National Portrait Gallery for gallery talks and tours with our wonderful curators! Experience current and newly opened exhibitions and learn more about works from our permanent collection. These Sunday afternoon tours will focus on “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today.”.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curator-tours-tickets-1984500920675?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Films.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. The Handmaiden
Films
Watch the Trailer
In this erotic thriller, filmmaker Park Chan-wook transposes Sarah Waters’s acclaimed novel Fingersmith from Victorian England to 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea. A conman calling himself Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) aims to seduce and marry wealthy heiress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). To further his cause, he enlists pickpocket Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) to insinuate herself as Lady Hideko’s servant. But his plans are thrown into disarray when the women fall in love with each other and hatch their own scheme. Moving back and forth in time, The Handmaiden is full of twists, turns, alliances, and betrayals that keep you guessing to the very end. “Exquisitely designed and sexually liberating, this is a hugely entertaining thriller” (Benjamin Lee, The Guardian).
Intended for mature audiences.
Director: Park Chan-wook. Country: Korea. Released: 2016. Length: 144 min. Format: DCP. Language: Korean and Japanese with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://pcw.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 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. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
The Smithsonian in the Arctic: More Than a Century and a Half of Collecting, Research, and Exhibition
All Programs
In 1877, Spencer Baird, the second Secretary of the Smithsonian, dispatched naturalist Edward W. Nelson to the wilds of Alaska for four years, where he became known as “the man who collects good-for-nothing things.” Those things are now among the treasures of the Smithsonian’s anthropology collection. William Fitzhugh, the director of the Smithsonian’s Arctic Studies Center, discusses how Nelson’s research laid the foundation for 150 years of natural history and anthropological studies, as well as exhibits and public programs.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smithsonian-in-arctic?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smithsonian-in-arctic?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
The Art of Indigo, Inspired by George Washington Carver
One-Time Events
Join Kenya Miles, founder of Blue Light Junction, for an in-person workshop exploring the art and history of natural indigo dyeing. Participants will learn about the cultural significance of indigo, the dyeing process, and techniques for creating unique patterns while dyeing their own bandana to take home. We will also be joined by Museum Curator Jeanelle K. Hope shares insights into Carver’s practice of experimentation and ingenuity at Tuskegee University. This workshop is presented in support of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s traveling exhibition, At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.
Who this workshop is for:Families and intergenerational groups who want to create together, Individuals curious about natural dyes, Beginners and experienced practitioners, Anyone looking to deepen their connection to material-based practices and learn more about Carver’s legacy,
For Inquiries, please email NMAAHCEngage@si.edu.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: 2nd Floor Classroom. Cost: This workshop has sold out. Categories: Workshops. After Five. Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Lincoln's Tragic Admiral: Samuel Francis Du Pont
All Programs
Rear Adm. Samuel Francis Du Pont, once considered among the Navy’s finest officers, suffered lasting damage to his reputation after the failed 1863 ironclad attack on Charleston. Though praised early in the Civil War for securing a major Union victory, he was later miscast as resistant to innovation. Historian Kevin J. Weddle argues that Du Pont supported technological progress but opposed using ironclads for this mission. Overruled by superiors, he carried out the attack, which ended his career. Weddle restores Du Pont’s overlooked contributions to naval modernization and strategy.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/lincolns-tragic-admiral?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/lincolns-tragic-admiral?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Estudio de Cuentos: Un caluroso día de verano
One time events
Estudio de Cuentos is held the third Tuesday of every month. Facilitation is entirely in Spanish. We recommend that at least one person in your group (child or caregiver) speaks Spanish. This program’s English-language version, Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day, will be held Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18. SOBRE ESTUDIO DE CUENTOS
Estudio de Cuentos ocurre el tercer martes de cada mes, a las 10 y 11 de la mañana, y está diseñado para niños desde recién nacidos hasta los 6 años y sus cuidadores. Los participantes son bienvenidos a nuestro estudio de arte para disfrutar de una hora especial de juego, lecturas en voz alta, y exploración artística. El programa es completamente en español, y se recomienda que por lo menos un miembro de su grupo (niño o cuidador) hable español.
Estudio de Cuentos tiene cupo limitado. La entrada es por orden de llegada. ESTA SEMANA
Refréscate en el rocío de una boca de incendio, o “johnnypump,” junto al niño y el perro en la célebre pintura de 1982 del artista…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Art in the A.M.
One-Time Events
Inspire early childhood creativity with SAAM during Art in the A.M. Children ages up to 5 years and their caregivers are invited to the museum before hours to learn, connect, and create in the galleries. During this program, participants will explore the exhibition Nick Cave: Mammoth by playing a game of I Spy, then create their own paper puppet mini mammoth.
Registration for this program will close on Monday, June 15, at noon.
Image credit: Installation photography of Nick Cave: Mammoth, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2026, ©Nick Cave; Photo by RON BLUNT STUDIO.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in G Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3MQYP. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Nick Cave: Mammoth.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:30 AM.
CANCELLED - Play Date at NMNH: Megalodon Day!
One-Time Events
THIS PROGRAM IS CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE
Tuesday, June 16th will be a post-celebration of Megalodon Day (June 15th)! While Megalodons, an ancient shark that lived 23 – 3.5 million years ago, are no longer swimming in our ocean, people of all ages are fascinated by its size and large teeth! Together we will learn about this ancient shark that used to roam the ocean, make our own wearable artwork inspired by Megalodon teeth, and have the chance to hold a real Megalodon tooth!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Latin Music Fans: Making Culture & Keeping Tradition
American Latino Museum
Join a music-filled conversation about the current resurgence of salsa, the role of DJs and radio hosts in circulating musical knowledge, and music’s capacity to build community and recover history.
You’ll hear from Pablo Yglesias (DJ Bongohead) and Ranald Woodaman, assistant director of exhibition development at the National Museum of the American Latino and lead curator of its new exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/_XOj8hwVdI8?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Expert: Julia Child's Kitchen
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet a curator and learn more about Julia Child's kitchen.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 East. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: FOOD: Transforming the American Table. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Analog Nights
One-Time Events
Slow down, unwind, and take a break from doomscrolling with a screen-free night of creativity and community at the Portrait Gallery. Bring your favorite analog hobby and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the Kogod Courtyard. Need inspiration? Think needlepoint, knitting, sketching, watercolor, junk journaling, mahjong, and more. Each Analog Night will feature a spotlight activity inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Come solo or with friends! For ages 18+.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/analog-nights-tickets-1982549304338?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. After Five.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Art and Kingship in Southeast Asia
All Programs
Strategically located for trade, rich in resources, and containing a variety of cultural traditions, the civilizations of mainland and island Southeast Asia are among the most dynamic in the world. Art historian Robert DeCaroli examines the cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia from the earliest archaeological evidence to the onset of colonialism, with a focus on the royal arts of the great civilizations that arose within the borders of modern Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-kingship-in-southeast-asia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-kingship-in-southeast-asia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Le Marche: Majestic Nature and Artistic Riches
All Programs
Art historian Sophia D’Addio surveys Le Marche, along the Adriatic east of Umbria, which features beaches, Apennine peaks, and rolling hills with towns. Urbino, Raphael’s hometown, shines as an artistic hub, while Loreto has drawn pilgrims since the 14th century. Beyond these marvels, D’Addio highlights more off-the-beaten-path destinations. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/italian-regions-le-marche?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/italian-regions-le-marche?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM.
The Boston Tea Party: A Budding Revolution
All Programs
The 1773 Boston Tea Party arose from colonial outrage over the Tea Act, a measure meant to curb smuggling and aid the East India Company but viewed in Boston as a monopoly threatening colonial liberty. Merchants denounced the act, and tensions peaked when three tea-laden ships arrived. About 100 men boarded the vessels and dumped the cargo into the harbor. Historian Richard Bell interprets the protest as an early stand against corporate power and global economic influence, an act that worsened relations between the Crown and colonies and helped set the stage for revolution.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/boston-tea-party?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/boston-tea-party?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Wellness Wednesdays
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and wellness expert Aparna Sadananda for mindfulness programs inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. On the first Wednesday of each month, join us for an artful meditation, where we will practice slow looking and experience portraiture through breath and slow movement. On the third Wednesday of each month, join us for a wellness program that inspires the senses and includes sound baths and musical meditation. These programs are for ages 18+ and are suitable for all skill levels. No experience is necessary.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-wellness-wednesdays-tickets-1982011714392?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. National History Day Exhibit Showcase
One-Time Events
Open spaces on all three floors will be taken over by 50 table-top displays created by middle and high school students competing in the 2026 National History Day national contest. Their exhibits represent topics relevant to their state and local communities and reflect the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Join us to view their exhibits and interact with students. This showcase is free and open to the public.
The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 East, 2 East, 2 West, 3 East. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
DC | In Language There is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola
One-Time Events
On Wednesday, June 17, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) will host a special “In Language There is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” Showcase. This showcase will feature middle and high school students from Hawai‘i who completed a National History Day project in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and qualified at the Hawaiʻi affiliate contest. These students were invited to Washington, D.C. to share their work with a national audience. Their projects show perspectives and understanding vital to their culture and support larger community efforts that give life to Indigenous languages.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1, Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Demonstrations. Lectures & Discussions.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Cool off in the spray from a fire hydrant, or “johnnypump,” alongside a boy and dog in a celebrated 1982 painting by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat now on view at the Museum. Then we’ll make watercolor artworks to beat the summer heat.
Featured book: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each program day, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
No pre-registration is required.
Entry to Storytime Studio is first-come, first-served. Once the…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
National History Day Performance Showcase
One-Time Events
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will feature select performances starring and created by middle and high school students for the 2026 National History Day national contest. Join us for these performances that will highlight a range of under-told stories in American history that reflect the 2026 theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” This showcase is free and open to the public.
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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible, and ASL services will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Hall of Music. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
African Art and Aesthetics
All Programs
Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar provides an introductory history to African art and aesthetics, addressing the terminology used when describing the art. Cassar highlights main concepts found in African art, including the flexed-knee motif and representations of maternity and fertility. He provides a close look at a variety of styles of masks, from expressive to abstract, executed in wood, ivory, and bronze. Cassar also discusses the challenges of studying African art, as well as its influence on modern European painters and sculptors. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/african-art-and-aesthetics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/african-art-and-aesthetics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Biggest, Fewest, and Weirdest: How Challenges of the Extreme Made Math
All Programs
Many of the most significant areas of mathematics have emerged from questions about extremes: the shortest path between two points on a curved surface, the fewest colors needed for a map, the fastest fall, or the shortest proof. To illuminate how mathematicians drive knowledge forward by reaching for the edges, author and mathematician Ian Stewart explores stories of superlative problems—their history, the struggles to solve them, and the uses of some of the results.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/biggest-fewest-and-weirdest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/biggest-fewest-and-weirdest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Fostering Civic Action in Youth | Cultivating Learning
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
As America turns 250 in 2026, young people are writing its next chapter. Join a group of educators who apply interdisciplinary approaches to learning to engage young people in civic dialogue tied to their communities. Through a range of Smithsonian programs and resources, youth interact with historical and contemporary sources to understand their local histories while also contemplating a future that is shaped in response to present-day priorities. These programs support youth in developing stronger civic identities and encourage them to take active roles in preserving and protecting the rich histories within the communities where they live.
We will explore case studies that model collaboration with students and action planning using historical sources, oral histories, photography, literature, art and more, to encourage youth voice as part of imagining any community's future. You'll leave with access to lesson plans, program models, toolkits, and opportunities to join the Smithsonian as an education partner…
Event Location: Online. Cost: Free. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Related Events: In this special 2025-2026 Cultivating Learning series, "Celebrating America at 250," Smithsonian educators share teaching techniques and resources that help tell the story of America's 250th. The series celebrates well-known people, events, and accomplishments of our nation and also provides opportunities to discuss lesser-told histories that together form our national narrative. Join us to explore strategies for using digital museum resources to support student learning at this milestone moment in American… Accessibility: Captioning.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Natural History on the Big Screen: Bring Them Home Screening and Q&A (*Rescheduled from May 28*)
One-Time Events
Bison: Standing Strong, the newest exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History explores the remarkable story of bison; how these iconic animals shaped North American landscapes for more than 100,000 years and anchored Indigenous lifeways for generations, and the dedicated efforts to ensure their survival after they were pushed to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
Join us for a screening of Bring Them Home, a film that tells the story of the Blackfoot people striving to re-establish wild buffalo on tribal land after 100 years of absence. The film recounts efforts to restore buffalo, land, traditional culture and bring healing to the Blackfeet community. Narrated and executive produced by Oscar nominee, Blackfeet/Nez Perce actor, Lily Gladstone, the film has been an audience favorite at festivals.
After the screening, Sant Director Kirk Johnson moderates a conversation with Ivan MacDonald, co-director and producer of the film, and Sarah Johnson, postdoctoral fellow at NMNH researching bison…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/95797313/natural-history-on-the-big-screenbring-them-home-screening-and-qa-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Films. Related Exhibition: Bison: Standing Strong. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. Idealists in the Shadows: Helping World War II Refugees
All Programs
Despite prevailing isolationist public opinion and an obstructionist government, an informal American humanitarian network of citizen activists delivered aid to and rescued many victims of Nazi oppression before and during World War II. History professor Andrew Falk tells the story of this group of citizens who organized to provide emergency relief, establish programs overseas, and resettle thousands of persecuted people in safe havens stretching from Latin America to East Asia.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/idealists-in-shadows?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/idealists-in-shadows?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Storytime Studio: One Hot Summer Day
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Cool off in the spray from a fire hydrant, or “johnnypump,” alongside a boy and dog in a celebrated 1982 painting by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat now on view at the Museum. Then we’ll make watercolor artworks to beat the summer heat.
Featured book: One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each program day, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
No pre-registration is required.
Entry to Storytime Studio is first-come, first-served. Once the…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Watercolor Worlds.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. The Venice Biennale: From 1895 to Today
All Programs
Every two years, the Venice Biennale transforms Venice into a living museum. This cultural extravaganza has grown into one of the world’s most influential exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater, showcasing groundbreaking work from more than 90 nations. In a 2-session series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the biennale’s rich past and its landmark 2026 edition. This session focuses on the 2026 Biennale. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/venice-biennale-1D0160B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/venice-biennale-1D0160B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Yoga and Aging: Accessible Yoga Practices
All Programs
Yoga therapist Linda Lang introduces seated and chair-based practices rooted in classical yoga and integrative medicine. She demonstrates adaptable postures, breathwork, and mindful movement that honor physical changes while preserving therapeutic value. Participants learn key seated poses, supported standing options, and everyday mobility strategies to enhance balance, joint health, and functional movement. Emphasis is placed on safe alignment, effective prop use, and modifications for common concerns. The inclusive, experiential session invites participation, observation, questions, and discussion.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/yoga-and-aging?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/yoga-and-aging?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
DC | Closer Look: Water's Edge
One-Time Events
Join Rebecca Trautmann, curator of Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, for an in-gallery conversation with Dakota Hoska (Oglála Lakȟóta Nation, Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee), curator of Native American and Global Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Art. Together, they will offer visitors a closer look at selected artworks in the exhibition. Dakota Hoska is the curator of Native American and Global Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Hoska was previously the Associate Curator of Native Arts and NAGPRA coordinator for the Denver Art Museum (DAM), after serving as a Research Assistant at the Minneapolis Institute of Art where she worked on the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists. She holds a MA in Art History (focus on Native American Art History) from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN (2019), a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (2012), and she completed two years of Dakhóta language at the University of…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3, exhibition gallery. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Expert: Cryptocurrency
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet curator Ellen Feingold and learn about a famous cryptocurrency heist.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Value of Money, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Strawberry Moon
One-Time Events
Many Native communities of the Northeast celebrate the harvest of strawberries in June and July. Learn about the significance and cultural traditions surrounding the strawberry for Indigenous communities and then create a paper strawberry to take home. All ages welcome.
*Children 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Chalk the Block with Ground Shift Studio
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and Ground Shift Studios for a fun-filled afternoon chalk-in. Open to participants of all ages, this program celebrates the 250th of America's founding! Families, friends, and art lovers alike are invited to gather on the F Street sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery for some colorful summer fun.
Enjoy interactive chalk games, create your own chalk portraits, and soak in the lively atmosphere alongside special guest, the DowntownDC BID.
Afterward, join us in the museum for more chalk fun and Smithsonian American Art's Take 5: Jazz at SAAM concert series!
Event Location: F Street. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chalk-the-block-with-ground-shift-studio-tickets-1988765556315. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Panel Discussion: "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art"
One-Time Events
Enjoy a panel discussion moderated by Risham Majeed and featuring curators Kevin Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, and artists Paul Emmanuel, Mikael Owunna, Tyna Abebowale, and Leilah Babirye whose work is featured in the exhibition Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art and the accompanying book.
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art is based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms. Through their art, they invite us into their worlds, and share complex stories of openly claiming their identities, their histories, and their place.
Image credit: Kevin Dumouchelle photo by Franko Khoury; Tyna Abebowale photo courtesy of artist; Leilah Babirye photo by AX Mina; Mikael Owunna photo by Ajamu X; Paul Emmanuel by Meg Clerc.
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Sylvia Williams Gallery (Sublevel 1). Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988929983120?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Paul Bailey (Solstice Edition)
One-Time Events
Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, part of a series of free, live performances. Jazz trumpeter Paul Bailey, a native of Washington, DC and graduate of Howard University, will perform a selection of works by Miles Davis to mark the late jazz icon’s 100th birthday.
This special extended edition of Take 5 is part of the Smithsonian’s multi-day Solstice Celebration with after-hours programming. Borrow a board game to play during the concert, stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase solstice-themed refreshments until 7:30 p.m. or explore SAAM’s special exhibition Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work during the extended hour. The National Portrait Gallery, that shares the building with SAAM, is hosting community chalk art activities by Ground Shift Studio for attendees to enjoy throughout the performance.
Presented as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 and Solstice.
Image credit: Photo by Matthew Bailey.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free | Registration encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3MS2M. Categories: After Five. Performances.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Black Music Month Celebration
One-Time Events
Please join us for a panel discussion focused on the business of Black radio, its impact on local and national communities, and the importance of preserving Black radio history with Sheila Brown, Owner and General Manager, WUFO/Black Radio History Collective, Jocelyn Robinson, Director, Radio Preservation & Archives at WYSO/HBCU Radio Preservation Project, and Bernie Hayes, Curator, Wolff Jazz Institute, Harris-Stowe State University, and Director, Black Radio Hall of Fame; moderated by Steven Lewis, Museum Curator of Music and Performing Arts, NMAAHC.
This event is a preview for the Black Music Month Radio Conference.
This event will be held offsite at the Mason O. Damon Auditorium, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203.
Event Location: Mason O. Damon Auditorium, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019d8d49-33a2-8220-cc42-10829bb49c7b?tg=019d8d49-33aa-3a2d-c6a5-6c90bd9cba25. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit tickets.si.edu. Sunlight Symphonies
All Programs
The reasons behind why the daytime sky is blue, what causes a rainbow, and the creation of a halo around the moon or sun all involve how sunlight interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere. J. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, introduces you to the score of atmospheric phenomena that you can see in a daytime sky, from sun pillars at dawn to the Belt of Venus at dusk.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sunlight-symphonies?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sunlight-symphonies?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Solstice Celebration
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
Building on the annual Solstice Saturday event that marks the start of summer, this expanded three-day version features late-night hours, programs and performances at the Arts & Industries Building and across Smithsonian museums from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon.
Visit our Solstice Celebration page for details.
Event Location: Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026 – Sunday, June 21, 2026.
For more info visit www.si.edu. Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Anacostia Community Museum
One-Time Events
10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET (see event schedule for more details)
Celebrate freedom, culture, and community at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum’s Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, a full day honoring history, creativity, wellness, music, and tradition. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together as a community to reflect, celebrate freedom, preserve cultural traditions, and create joyful spaces rooted in connection, resilience, and collective healing. This family-friendly celebration invites guests of all ages to gather in joy and reflection.
Enjoy a full day of family-friendly programming, including:
• Everyday Herbalism & Modern-Day Pickling Workshop
• Rooted Recipes Interactive Recipe Exchange
• The Art of Roller Skating: “Style” Roller Skating as American Folk Art
• What’s Cracking: History and Culture of the Black Community and Shellfish
Main Stage entertainment featuring:
• Host: Sir Harvey Fitz
• DJ Heat
• Black Alley
• Chuck Brown Band
• Autumn LaBella
• Playback…
Categories: Performances. Demonstrations. Workshops. Lectures & Discussions. Kids & Families. Culinary Arts. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-freedom-celebration-tickets-1989219016627. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Washington, D.C.
Friday, June 19, 2026.
Anacostia Community Museum
Washington, D.C.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Smithsonian Solstice Weekend
One time events
Free; no registration required.
Friday | June 19 | 10 AM–11 PM, Saturday | June 20 | 10 AM–11 PM
Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer with Solstice Weekend, with museums across the National Mall staying open late until 11 pm.
The Hirshhorn Museum will keep the following exhibitions open during extended hours:Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960, Step inside Laurie Anderson’s immersive gallery; take in a conversation (across time and space) between Jean-Michel Basquiat and street artist Banksy; and catch the larger than life installations in Big Things for Big Rooms.
Need a moment to soak it all in? Take a break and treat yourself to other late-night perks: pick up the perfect souvenir at the Museum Shop or refresh with drinks (for purchase) at Dolcezza Café.
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Hirshhorn Museum. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. After Five. Related Exhibition: Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Story Time: Delivering Democracy
One-Time Events
Join us for a special Civic Season Story Time designed for learners of all ages to explore the power of the mail in shaping civic life. Children, caregivers, and community members will read, reflect, and discover together as we look closely at objects in the museum galleries and share stories about community participation.
Activities will be available at 10am in the Museum lobby. The facilitated program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby.
Participants will have the opportunity to write advocacy postcards, engage in hands-on play, and consider how communication through the mail has connected individuals to their government and to one another throughout history.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Museum Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Due to inclement weather, Wonderplace will open at 12 noon on Friday, January 19, pending staff availability. We will update this entry if the operating status for Wonderplace changes. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis.At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Juneteenth Trunk Show
One-Time Events
Shop with us at the NMAAHC Museum Store’s Trunk Show. Meet and greet local DMV vendors and artisans, courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises. The Trunk Show will take place in Heritage Hall on Friday, June 19 from 10AM – 5PM.
Featured vendors include: Barlows Foods We Dream in Colour Sister Source, Carole Boston Weatherford SELF Incense Harm's Charms blackNugly Best Life Organics Timed-entry passes are required to enter the museum. For more details visit our Museum Store Webpage.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Heritage Hall. Cost: Free to attend. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit nmaahc.si.edu. Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Explore the past and present of Smithsonian Gardens and American gardening in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue for a tour of this iconic space.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Garden Break
Smithsonian Gardens
Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults.
Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations.
And be sure to check out the new Growing Tomorrow exhibition and discover how gardens can evoke memories.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: East Terrace of the Enid A. Haupt Garden, with additional activities throughout the garden. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
¡Puro Ritmo! Summer Solstice Celebration
American Latino Museum
Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.
Inspired by ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, this two-day program invites visitors to explore the rhythms, stories, and cultural connections that shaped salsa and its place in American music. Through hands-on activities, gallery tours, music, storytelling, dance, percussion, and karaoke, visitors can experience salsa as a living expression of migration, identity, innovation, and community.
Activities take place in and around the Molina Family Latino Gallery and the General Motors Learning Lounge throughout the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration weekend. The program includes learning carts, a salsa dance workshop, guided tours of ¡Puro Ritmo! storytime, percussion circles, karaoke, and ongoing hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.
This program is presented by the National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Big Moments, Little Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the power of storytelling and community through our early learners storytime experience inspired by We Make History! Through engaging stories, interactive gallery moments, and hands-on activities, children and caregivers will explore how everyday people, neighborhoods, and changemakers shape history in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Together, young learners will build curiosity and creativity.
Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years
Time and Schedule: 10: 30 a.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-tickets-1990727334045?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. DC | Hands On: Quillwork Designs
One-Time Events
Indigenous peoples of the Americas have long decorated clothing and objects with porcupine quills as expressions of care, respect, and love. Quillwork is a skillful artistic tradition that has been shared across generations. Young visitors and their families are invited to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center to learn about how quills have been used in this art form and to explore quillwork‑inspired designs using colorful, contemporary materials inspired by objects in the National Museum of the American Indian collection. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Juneteenth Community Day: Honoring Opal Lee and Celebrating 100 Years
One-Time Events
Join us for a joyful Juneteenth Community Day honoring the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Ms. Opal Lee—affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”—as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. This daylong celebration brings together generations through storytelling, food, music, and hands-on learning, centering community traditions and the ongoing meaning of freedom. Visitors of all ages are invited to gather, reflect, and celebrate Juneteenth through interactive programs inspired by Ms. Lee.
Program Highlights:NMAAHC Kids Juneteenth Story Time (11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Classroom, L2): Designed for children ages 3 to 8. Join us for a reading of Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth! by Tonya Abari, read by an engaging NMAAHC Kids educator! Then we’ll learn about the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal Lee, together and celebrate freedom with a colorful art project. Juneteenth Soundstage (11:00 AM & 3:00 PM, Heritage Hall, L1): Enjoy a lively lineup featuring a line dancing workshop with The DMV City…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Various Locations. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019d96cf-0232-e743-f7cf-c5030f8c4e1c?tg=019d96cf-0239-d200-491c-c80a41a5b1cf. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Workshops. Performances. Culinary Arts. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Pollinator Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Curator Tour: InSight
One-Time Events
Curated by the museum’s archivists, InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives features images from the Archives Center at the National Museum of the American Indian. The photos were selected from more than a half million images stewarded by the museum. They give an intimate view of Indigenous lives across the Western Hemisphere and across time. They show everyday moments of joy and quiet reflection. In these images, people attend social gatherings, pose for family photos, and learn from relatives. Each photo has a story to tell. It is the rich insight shared by Native people that brings these stories to life. Join a guided tour of the exhibition to learn more.
Image: Eva Curtis (Iñupiaq) and Sadie Vestal (Iñupiaq) picking wildflowers, Kotzebue, Alaska, June 23, 1951. Lindell and Ethel Bagley Alaska collection. 379_001.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 2, exhibition gallery (between elevator bank and Roanoke Museum Store). Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and Mary Livingston Ripley Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Find moments of peace and inspiration during this tour of the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Jefferson Drive, SW entrance to the Arts and Industries Building.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Tour begins outside the Jefferson Drive entrance to the Arts and Industries Building. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Indepen'Dance
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
We’ve partnered with local organizations and artists to bring you two days of live music, hands-on activities, film screenings, dance classes, and more. Learn how to “beat ya feet” to a live go-go band with The Go-Go Museum, dance on over to the National Museum of the American Latino's Molina Family Latino Gallery for salsa inspired activities and instruction or learn about a DC style of swing with the National Hand Dance Association.
Hear kid-friendly stories with the DC Public Library, the Scott Silbert Big Band on our Terrace, and DJ sets throughout the museum. See the 1988 cult classic film/musical Hairspray in our Warner Bros. Theater as part of the History Film Forum, join in on live pop-up theater performances…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-tickets-1990785919275?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Films. Performances. Workshops. Related Events: DCPL Storytime, History Film Forum. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Hands On: Quillwork Designs
One-Time Events
Indigenous peoples of the Americas have long decorated clothing and objects with porcupine quills as expressions of care, respect, and love. Quillwork is a skillful artistic tradition that has been shared across generations. Young visitors and their families are invited to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center to learn about how quills have been used in this art form and to explore quillwork‑inspired designs using colorful, contemporary materials inspired by objects in the National Museum of the American Indian collection. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Indepen'Dance: Beat Ya Feet Dance workshop and go-go performance by Next Gen Krank
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Beat Ya Feet Dance workshop and go-go performance by Next Gen Krank, 4:00 p.m. workshop; 5:00–7:00 p.m. performance
Coulter Performance Plaza
We’re partnering with The Go-Go Museum to teach you how to Beat Ya Feet! This high-energy, footwork-driven dance form, developed in Southeast DC in the 1990s by Marvin “Slush” Taylor, is grounded in the rhythm of go-go music and inspired by its energy. Learn some steps and practice your moves with a performance by up-and-coming band Next Gen Krank.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Coulter Performance Plaza (1 west). Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-beat-ya-feat-workshop-and-go-go-performance-tickets-1990798051563?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Indepen'Dance: Civic Season Lounge
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Civic Season Lounge, 5:00–10:00 p.m.
2 East, We’ve collaborated with Made by Us for Civic Season ’26 to create the Civic Season Lounge, featuring a drinks bar, seating, and activities—including Wish Wall writing stations where you can share your wish for the future of the United States. The space invites reflection, conversation, and imagination about the country’s future, encouraging the public to think about the next 10, 50, or 100 years. Can’t make it in person? Share your wish by email: Whatsyourwish?@si.edu.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance celebrates the nation’s history…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square (2 West). Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-civic-season-lounge-tickets-1990792270271?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution!
One-Time Events
Step back to 1776 in stunning VR! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Solstice Late Hours at the Castle
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Smithsonian Castle is staying open until 11:00 pm. This is a rare chance to experience the historic building after-hours.
The special exhibition, American Aspirations, co-curated by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, is on view until 9 pm.
Cafe and shop hours:
Castle Café Summer Shack 250: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bar: 5:00 – 10:30 pm. Enjoy after-hours bar service with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours.
The Castle Store: Friday, June 19: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm; Saturday, June 20: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560
Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit.
Venue: Smithsonian Castle. Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: Celebrations. After Five.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Friday
One-Time Events
In celebration of Smithsonian Solstice weekend and the 250th anniversary of the United States, the National Museum of Natural History is staying open until 11:00 pm with special programming from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Grab your self-guided scavenger hunt and make your own postcard with Find Your Place, a new museum-wide project highlighting objects in our permanent exhibits from all U.S. states and territories.
After you complete the scavenger hunt, find our friends at the National Postal Museum table and claim your prize while supplies last.
Check out the Find Your Place Museum Map and more info about the project here. Enjoy music in the Rotunda (first floor) from DJ Clamazon, Explore all the Museum’s galleries until 11pm, including the two newest exhibits, Bison: Standing Strong and From These Lands on the second floor.
Museum cafés and shops hours:
Atrium Café (ground floor): 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Grill only from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm with Grill and beer specials)
Ocean Terrace Café (first floor): 11:00…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (10th Street & Constitution Ave, NW). Cost: Free and open to the public. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/33909482/nmnh-solstice-late-night-hoursfriday-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Arts and Industries Building is staying open until 11:00 p m. with special programming:The Voices and Votes traveling exhibition, The Folklife Marketplace (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 10 am – 8 pm), The conversation series For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250 (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm), After-hours bar service (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 – 10:30 pm) with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours, Jazz performances on the Folklife Stage: Friday, June 19:
6 – 8 pm: The Kenny Rittenhouse Trio
8:30 – 10:30 pm: Grant Langford
Saturday, June 20:
6 – 8 pm: Freeform The Collective
8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Club of DC
Photobooth provided by Photos Enforced Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: After Five. Celebrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. DC | Amy Hānaialiʻi in Concert
One-Time Events
Vocalist and songwriter Amy Hānaialiʻi has been sharing her powerful voice from an early age. Her grandmother Jennie Napua Woodd, encouraged her to pursue ha‘i, often translated as “catch” or “break” a Hawaiian vocal tradition of falsetto singing. Hānaialiʻi is known for reviving ha‘i, through her prolific recording career and sold-out performances around the world.
Her success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by a multitude of awards and acknowledgements, including 6 GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album & Best Native Roots Music Album. Amy is Native Hawaiian, Ojibwe, and of Norwegian and European English descent. Her talent emerges from disciplined classical training, fused powerhouse vocals, and honoring her family’s worldly heritage and rooted ancestral responsibility. Amy is a soul singer and sings in many different genres. Amy’s albums have garnered 18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards – Hawai’i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY® awards. On June 12, Hānaialiʻi will be inducted into…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Garden Nights
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a bouquet of special garden activities. Take a closer look at the amazing plants on the tropical terrace. Check out nighttime pollinators and don a pair of moth or butterfly wings for a photo op in the garden! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow exhibition to explore how American gardens have evolved throughout our nation’s history.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Discoteca del Sol: An Indepen’DANCE Evening Program
American Latino Museum
Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration after dark with Discoteca del Sol, a special evening program presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.
Part of the National Museum of American History’s Indepen’DANCE! celebration, Discoteca del Sol brings together live music, DJ sets, and outdoor summer energy for an evening inspired by the sounds of salsa dura and 1970s orchestral disco. Featuring DJ Adrian Collazo and Orquesta Manplesa, the program explores how Caribbean rhythms, Latin dance music, and disco converged to define the sound of an era.
Held on the Madison Avenue Terrace, this free evening event invites visitors to dance, listen, gather, and experience the musical connections that continue to shape American culture. Discoteca del Sol also extends the themes of the National Museum of the American Latino’s exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, which traces salsa’s roots, rhythms, migrations, and lasting…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Madison Ave. Terrace. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances. Related Events: Indepen'DANCE. Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth
One-Time Events
Snap a solstice selfie with Ande the Llama! Pose with our giant plush llama and add some flair with fun photo props provided by museum staff. A great stop for laughs and memorable photos.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
DC | Glow & Create: Sling Braided Keychains
One-Time Events
The Quechua people celebrate their culture through daily life—wearing beautiful textiles, sharing music, and gathering for lively festivals that honor the sun and the seasons. In this hands‑on activity, participants will explore the idea of traditional sling braiding by creating their own glowing keychain using bright, glow‑in‑the‑dark yarn. It’s a fun way to learn how weaving and braiding can tell stories and bring people together—all with a little extra sparkle!
*Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
Hidden Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Let the Haupt Garden surprise and delight you during this tour of out-of-the-way areas. Your expert garden guide will introduce you to the garden’s people, plants, and stories. Meet at the tour sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Enid A. Haupt Garden tour begins just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM.
Pollinator Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.
Please note this tour begins before the museum is open to the public.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located 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 18 - November 21, 2026.*
You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets.
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: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Growing Community: Community in Action
One-Time Events
Step into a garden where community comes alive! Join us for a tour of the Southwest Community Garden at Lansburgh Park, a space where neighbors connect, learn, and actively care for both the land and each other. Experience hands-on stewardship and see firsthand how vibrant green spaces bring a community together.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Community Garden. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-community-community-in-action-tickets-1984523443040?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Open Studio: Make a Splash!
One time events
Beat the heat every Saturday in June at Open Studio! Each week, we’ll take inspiration from the heat of summer and look at artworks by artists such as Nicolas Party, Spencer Finch, Joan Miró and more.
Join us this Saturday as we draw inspiration from artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and his painting Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump (1982), on view in Basquiat x Banksy. We’ll use materials like paint sticks, oil pastels, and stencils to express the joys of summer!
Meet in Art School on the Museum’s 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 to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—and allow them to craft, create, and learn.
No reservations or tickets are…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Community Portraits with Aliza Nisenbaum.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Smithsonian Solstice Weekend
One time events
Free; no registration required.
Friday | June 19 | 10 AM–11 PM, Saturday | June 20 | 10 AM–11 PM
Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer with Solstice Weekend, with museums across the National Mall staying open late until 11 pm.
The Hirshhorn Museum will keep the following exhibitions open during extended hours:Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960, Step inside Laurie Anderson’s immersive gallery; take in a conversation (across time and space) between Jean-Michel Basquiat and street artist Banksy; and catch the larger than life installations in Big Things for Big Rooms.
Need a moment to soak it all in? Take a break and treat yourself to other late-night perks: pick up the perfect souvenir at the Museum Shop or refresh with drinks (for purchase) at Dolcezza Café.
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Hirshhorn Museum. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. After Five. Related Exhibition: Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
The World & Me: WETA PBS KIDS and NMNH’s Solstice and Museum Celebration with special guest, Alma!
One-Time Events
Learn more about your place in the world through explorations of nature and culture with museum educators and our friends from WETA!
Come celebrate the summer solstice inside Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center! Join us Saturday, June 20th, as we explore the amazing things we can learn and do when we visit the museum together as a family or with friends. Special guest Alma from the PBS Kids animated series “Alma’s Way” will be present and an episode about her family’s trip to a museum will also be shown throughout the event. Families with learners of all ages will be invited to explore different stations, make observations of specimens from our collection, and explore play and art.
This is a drop-in event. Families can drop in anytime from 10:00am - 1:00pm and stay for as long as your family would like. No registration is required.
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…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Ground Floor, Q?rius: The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Explore the past and present of Smithsonian Gardens and American gardening in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue for a tour of this iconic space.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden. Tour begins just inside the gates on Independence Avenue. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Pollinator Party
Smithsonian Gardens
Get ready for Pollinator Week 2026 with the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile! Have fun with hands-on activities. Discover why pollination matters and learn what you can do to help pollinators in your community. Check out the new Growing Tomorrow exhibition to discover the important role native plants play in gardening today. And don’t miss our pollinator-themed story times throughout the day! This drop-in program is designed for all ages.
Garden Play Pollinator Storytime
10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
2:30 p.m.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: East Terrace of the Enid A. Haupt Garden, with additional activities throughout the garden. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
¡Puro Ritmo! Summer Solstice Celebration
American Latino Museum
Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.
Inspired by ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, this two-day program invites visitors to explore the rhythms, stories, and cultural connections that shaped salsa and its place in American music. Through hands-on activities, gallery tours, music, storytelling, dance, percussion, and karaoke, visitors can experience salsa as a living expression of migration, identity, innovation, and community.
Activities take place in and around the Molina Family Latino Gallery and the General Motors Learning Lounge throughout the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration weekend. The program includes learning carts, a salsa dance workshop, guided tours of ¡Puro Ritmo! storytime, percussion circles, karaoke, and ongoing hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.
This program is presented by the National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Museum-wide. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
Story Time with DC Public Library and CityDance Studios
One-Time Events
Join us for Story Time in collaboration with the DC Public Library! Children and their grown-ups can enjoy story time as an interactive way to exercise with language and literacy skills. Story Time is designed for learners ages 5 and under, but all are welcome!
This special Storytime is part of Indepen'Dance! - our weekend-long celebration of dance and during our nation’s 250th anniversary. Special guests from CityDance Studios will teach dances and lead creative movement to accompany the stories.
For questions about this event, please email us at: HistoryTeachers@si.edu.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West - Coulter Performance Plaza. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/story-time-with-dc-public-library-and-citydance-studios-tickets-1990797723582?aff=trumba. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. DC | Hands On: Paper Strawberry
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.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and Mary Livingston Ripley Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Find moments of peace and inspiration during this tour of the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Jefferson Drive, SW entrance to the Arts and Industries Building.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Tour begins outside the Jefferson Drive entrance to the Arts and Industries Building. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Story Time with DC Public Library and CityDance Studios
One-Time Events
Join us for Story Time in collaboration with the DC Public Library! Children and their grown-ups can enjoy story time as an interactive way to exercise with language and literacy skills. Story Time is designed for learners ages 5 and under, but all are welcome!
This special Storytime is part of Indepen'Dance! - our weekend-long celebration of dance and during our nation’s 250th anniversary. Special guests from CityDance Studios will teach dances and lead creative movement to accompany the stories.
For questions about this event, please email us at: HistoryTeachers@si.edu.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West - Coulter Performance Plaza. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/story-time-with-dc-public-library-and-citydance-studios-tickets-1990797824885?aff=trumba. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Indepen'Dance: Hand Dance presentation and social dance with the National Hand Dance Association
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Hand Dance presentation and social dance with the National Hand Dance Association, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Coulter Performance Plaza, Experience the rhythm, style, and community spirit of DC’s Hand Dance culture with the National Hand Dance Association. After a screening of Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing, which traces the history and evolution of Hand Dance, and a Q&A session, the National Hand Dance Association will showcase multiple styles of hand dance spanning generations. Join dancers in celebrating the fun freestyle dances of the ’60s like the Twist, the Jerk, and the Cha-Cha and enjoy contemporary interpretations of Hand Dance uniting youth performers with classic dancers in a celebration of Hand Dance passing from…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Coulter Performance Plaza (1 west). Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-national-hand-dance-association-tickets-1990793758723?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Closer Look: National Native American Veterans Memorial
One-Time Events
Join museum specialist Rachelle B. Pablo (Diné) for a closer look at the National Native American Veterans Memorial, designed by artist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, 1941-2025). Pablo will share with visitors about the creation and design elements of the memorial, and the legacy of Native service in the United States Armed Forces.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Outdoors, National Native American Veterans Memorial. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: National Native American Veterans Memorial.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. 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=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. ¡Puro Ritmo! Music, Participation, and Community
American Latino Museum
Join a discussion led by staff from the National Museum of the American Latino around the possibilities for audience engagement and community building unleashed by its latest exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Participants include Ranald Woodaman, assistant director of exhibition development and lead curator of the exhibition; Natalia Febo, community engagement and volunteer coordinator; and museum collaborators Dan Ramirez, Hyattsville Branch Library manager, and Maribel Rodríguez, bilingual program and outreach associate for Prince George’s County Memorial Library System.
ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video.
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/EfZFTP8qwVA?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. History Film Forum: Hairspray (1988)
One-Time Events
The History Film Forum presents Hairspray (1988) as part of Indepen’Dance!
It’s 1962, and TV dance shows are sweeping the nation. Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad’s (Ricki Lake) dream of becoming a local dance queen kicks off more than a dance battle —-it ignites a fight for racial desegregation within the city itself.
Written and directed by John Waters, Hairspray is a sweetly satirical look back at the conventions, structures, and challenges of the 1960s. While only a moderate success at the box office at the time, the film became a cult classic on VHS. It was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical in 2002, which itself was adapted into a musical film of the same name in 2007. In 2022 the Library of Congress selected Hairspray (1988) for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Hairspray is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association.
_________
The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Warner Bros. Theater, 1 Center. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/history-film-forum-presents-hairspray-1988-tickets-1989693895001?aff=trumba. Categories: Films. Related Events: Indepen'Dance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Hands On: Paper Strawberry
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.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Closer Look: National Native American Veterans Memorial
One-Time Events
Join museum specialist Rachelle B. Pablo (Diné) for a closer look at the National Native American Veterans Memorial, designed by artist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, 1941-2025). Pablo will share with visitors about the creation and design elements of the memorial, and the legacy of Native service in the United States Armed Forces.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Outdoors, National Native American Veterans Memorial. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: National Native American Veterans Memorial.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
Indepen'Dance: Big band/swing dance party with Scott Silbert’s Biggest Big Band
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Big band/swing dance party with Scott Silbert’s Biggest Big Band
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Madison Drive Terrace, Enjoy a roaring, energetic, and unforgettable swing dancing experience with Scott Silbert’s Biggest Big Band. The group expands beyond the standard big band by adding a full string section to create a dynamic and lush swing-era sound and resurrects the distinctive styles of legendary bandleaders like Jimmie Lunceford, Chick Webb, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, and others. Enjoy a roaring, energetic, and unforgettable swing dancing experience.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages,…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Madison Drive Terrace. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-scott-silberts-biggest-big-tickets-1990793551102?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Closer Look: Making a Statement
One-Time Events
Curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) offers a closer look at the museum’s special installation Making a Statement, which demonstrates how Native women combine traditional design elements with modern military symbolism to demonstrate cultural pride and honor military service. The installation features a historical Lakota beaded dress decorated with elaborate patriotic American imagery and a jingle dress made by members of the Native American Women Warriors to show pride in their Indigenous heritage and to emphasize the role of Native women in the military. Get hands-on to learn more about beadwork, jingle cones, and other design elements related to Native dressmaking in the museum’s Teaching Collection.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: Making a Statement special installation. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Making a Statement.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
Tony Cohen's Walk To Freedom: Film Screening and Conversation
One-Time Events
In 1996 filmmaker and historian Anthony Cohen and a Howard undergraduate student traced the underground railroad routes from the South all the way up to Canada, on foot, just as their ancestors had done. Beginning in Sandy Spring, MD, Cohen traveled nearly 1,500 miles to his destination in Amherstburg, Ontario. Along the way Cohen searched for the remains of mansions, shacks and other hideaways that once provided shelter to those in need along the Underground Railroad. In 1998 Cohen embarked on a second journey, this time tracing routes from Mobile, AL to Windsor, Ontario.
In 2026, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the initial journey, Cohen has again taken to the road to remind all of us of the importance of this history. The film footage that Cohen took in 1996 and 1998, which was intended to be used for a documentary, represents primary documentation of historic sites (many of which no longer exist) and has been digitized and preserved by the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African Americ…
Event Location: Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, 825 Depot Ave, Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019db065-6910-0541-cb70-051bd3fd80f5. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit tickets.si.edu. Indepen'Dance: Civic Season Lounge
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Civic Season Lounge, 5:00–10:00 p.m.
2 East, We’ve collaborated with Made by Us for Civic Season ’26 to create the Civic Season Lounge, featuring a drinks bar, seating, and activities—including Wish Wall writing stations where you can share your wish for the future of the United States. The space invites reflection, conversation, and imagination about the country’s future, encouraging the public to think about the next 10, 50, or 100 years. Can’t make it in person? Share your wish by email: Whatsyourwish?@si.edu.
____________________
This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance celebrates the nation’s history…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Unity Square (2 West). Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Asia After Dark | Smithsonian Solstice
Performances
Celebrate the longest day of the year with after-hours access to the museum, a DJ dance party, a cafe popup, and exclusive gallery tours and talks!
Dance the day and night away with a special guest DJ Armana Khan! Meanwhile, experience our exhibitions in a new light with exclusive curator tours throughout the evening. Enjoy spotlight talks in our newly opened exhibition Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms. ScheduleDocent Spotlight Talks
4–7 p.m. Moongate Cafe Bar
5–9 p.m.
Plaza
Drinks available for purchase while supplies last, DJ Dance Party with Armana Khan
6–9 p.m.
Plaza, Spotlight Talks with Curator Debra Diamond
5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Gallery 24, Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms, Curator Tours
5 p.m. | Gallery 5-7, Japanese Art from the Collection with Curator Naoko Adachi
6 p.m. | Gallery 25, Into the Waters with Curator Jan Stuart, Register in advance to get the best experience. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution,…
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: National Museum of Asian Art, Plaza. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989548933417?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Performances. Celebrations. After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution!
One-Time Events
Step back to 1776 in stunning VR! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Solstice Late Hours at the Castle
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Smithsonian Castle is staying open until 11:00 pm. This is a rare chance to experience the historic building after-hours.
The special exhibition, American Aspirations, co-curated by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, is on view until 9 pm.
Cafe and shop hours:
Castle Café Summer Shack 250: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bar: 5:00 – 10:30 pm. Enjoy after-hours bar service with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours.
The Castle Store: Friday, June 19: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm; Saturday, June 20: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560
Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit.
Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: Celebrations. After Five.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Saturday
One-Time Events
The National Museum of Natural History will be open late on Saturday, June 20, as part of the Smithsonian's Solstice celebration. Visitors can explore the Museum's galleries until 11 pm. No passes or registration required.
Museum cafés and shops hours:
Atrium Café (ground floor): 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Grill only from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
Ocean Terrace Café (first floor): 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Coffee Bar (first floor): 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Shops: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Museum Store cart outside on Madison Dr.: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Please note that additional programming at NMNH will not be available on June 20. Special Solstice activities at NMNH will take place on Friday, June 19th.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (10th Street & Constitution Ave, NW). Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
Solstice Celebration at African Art
One-Time Events
Stay out late with the Smithsonian!
Join the National Museum of African Art for a Solstice Celebration featuring tours, performances, art, drinks for purchase, and more!
6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Curator-led tours of Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art (S1), 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Plus Ultra Entertainment ft. DJ Detailz (Mezzanine, S1), 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. DJ Grimmworkz featuring Ni Dembaya Band (Williams Gallery, S1), 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. DJ B2B DJ Detailz & DJ Grimmworkz ft. Eli the Drummer (Williams Gallery, S1), This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited. Please allow extra time to travel between museums.
To reach the National Museum of African Art, exit the Smithsonian metro stop from 12th St. and Independence Ave. or use the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop.
If arriving via ride share, please use Independence Ave. (950 Independence Ave.)
By attending this event, you grant the Smithsonian Institution permission to photograph, film, videotape…
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Throughout the Museum. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988932192729?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Performances. Related Exhibition: Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:45 PM.
Indepen'Dance: Indoor DJ set with Leon City Sounds
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Indoor DJ set with Leon City Sounds, 6:00 -9:00 p.m.
1 Center, Go on an immersive musical journey with Leon City Sounds, who bring their signature all-vinyl style with an infectious blend of genres from across Latin America. Leon City Sounds (Claudia and Charles Lawrence) is known for thoughtfully curated sets that celebrate deep musical traditions while keeping dance floors moving. Stop in to listen, dance, or discover new sounds as Leon City Sounds creates a warm, high-energy atmosphere that carries the spirit of celebration throughout the evening.
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This activity is part of Indepen’Dance, our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. With activities for all ages,…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/independance-leon-city-sounds-tickets-1990793413691?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Indepen'Dance: Outdoor DJ sets with Baronhawk Poitier and Les the DJ
One-Time Events
Join us to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States at Indepen’Dance! With activities for all ages, Indepen’Dance! celebrates the nation’s history and culture through the lens of dance, illuminating the ways dance contributes to individuality, creativity, and our shared identity.
Outdoor DJ sets with Baronhawk Poitier and Les the DJ, 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Madison Drive Terrace, Enjoy an open-air dance party, featuring electrifying sets from DJ Baronhawk Poitier (6:00–8:00 p.m.) and Les the DJ (8:00–10:00 p.m.)
DJ and producer Baronhawk Poitier celebrates the rich musical and dance traditions of the DC area through a dynamic mix of house, techno, disco, and funk, shaped by DC’s underground dance culture and nightlife communities.
Les the DJ (Les Talusan) crafts irresistible sets from a vast and eclectic collection of pop, indie, and underground hits, as well as obscure gems in a freeform blend of soul, funk, boogie, disco, and old school hip-hop.
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This activity is part of…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Madison Drive Terrace. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dj-baronhawk-poitier-tickets-1990791484922?aff=trumba. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. DC | Curator Tour: Stretching the Canvas
One-Time Events
Curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) will provide a brief guided tour of Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting, which tells the story of how American Indian art expanded after World War I and how Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored their talent. The wide range of subjects in the featured artworks offers an opportunity for visitors to engage more deeply with the content of the exhibition. Challenge your friends or family to be the first to complete your Find-It activity for bragging rights!
Image: Gerónima Cruz Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh, 1915–2015), Spring, 1961. Casein on paper. Museum purchase, 1966. (23/6420).
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 4. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Celebrations. Related Exhibition: Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM.
Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building
Smithsonian Sponsored Events
In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Arts and Industries Building is staying open until 11:00 p m. with special programming:The Voices and Votes traveling exhibition, The Folklife Marketplace (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 10 am – 8 pm), The conversation series For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250 (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm), After-hours bar service (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 – 10:30 pm) with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours, Jazz performances on the Folklife Stage: Friday, June 19:
6 – 8 pm: The Kenny Rittenhouse Trio
8:30 – 10:30 pm: Grant Langford
Saturday, June 20:
6 – 8 pm: Freeform The Collective
8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Club of DC
Photobooth provided by Photos Enforced Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.
Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence…
Venue: Arts and Industries Building. Event Location: Throughout the building. Cost: Free, and open to the public. Categories: After Five. Celebrations.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit www.si.edu. Solstice, Under The Stars
One-Time Events
Join us for our first ever, Solstice: Under the Stars at ACM, an unforgettable evening of music, movement, and community beneath the night sky. Enjoy a late-night skate featuring sounds by Farrah Flosscett, immersive stargazing experiences, and after-hours access to ACM’s newest exhibition, We Make History. Gather with friends, family, and neighbors as we celebrate the season with culture, connection, and a magical evening under the stars.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Anacostia Community Museum. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solstice-under-the-stars-tickets-1989701936052?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Garden Nights
Smithsonian Gardens
Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a variety of special garden activities. Take a closer look at the amazing plants on the tropical terrace. Learn about nighttime pollinators and don a pair of moth or butterfly wings for a photo op in the garden! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow exhibition to explore how American gardens have evolved throughout our nation’s history.
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth
One-Time Events
Snap a solstice selfie with Ande the Llama! Pose with our giant plush llama and add some flair with fun photo props provided by museum staff. A great stop for laughs and memorable photos.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
DC | Glow & Create: Beaded Keychains
One-Time Events
Beadwork has long been an important art form among Indigenous peoples of the Americas, used to decorate clothing and objects with meaning, care, and skill. Among the Assiniboine, beadwork traditions are passed down through generations, connecting art, identity, and community. In this activity, visitors can explore basic beading techniques while creating a glow‑in‑the‑dark keychain that blends tradition with contemporary materials.
*Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
Hidden Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Let the Haupt Garden surprise and delight you during this tour of out-of-the-way areas. Your expert garden guide will introduce you to the garden’s people, plants, and stories. Meet at the tour sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Enid A. Haupt Garden tour begins just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM.
DC | Shub's PowWow-Step Dance Party
One-Time Events
For over a decade, Shub (formerly known as DJ Shub), a Mohawk and a member of the Turtle Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River, has been at the forefront of a movement that reshaped the landscape of Indigenous electronic music. A trailblazer who coined the powwow-step genre and a former member of the Juno-winning A Tribe Called Red, Shub has spent years blending the ancient rhythms of powwow music with the pulse of modern beats, scratching, and bass-heavy production. With a new name and vision, Shub is stepping beyond the DJ booth, emerging as a composer, storyteller, and artist dedicated to expanding the reach of Indigenous music.
Shub brings his award-winning and genre-defining sound to the museum along with dancers to energize the crowd. Show off your moves solo or bring a friend to join you on the dance floor!
Image credits: Cassandra Popescu (top), performance photo by @yourwildfriend3.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances.
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM.