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Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Little Artists, Big Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the magic of creativity with our storybook reading program for early learners! Through engaging stories, vibrant exhibits, and hands-on art activities, children will explore the legacy of Black arts education in Washington, D.C. building curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for artistic expression.
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/little-artists-big-stories-tickets-1974939119069?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Kwanzaa 2025 at African Art
One-Time Events
Kwanzaa, celebrated annually from December 26 to January 1, is an international holiday that honors African heritage and African American culture. A harvest festival, Kwanzaa is organized around the Nguzo Saba, seven guiding principles that are celebrated individually each day of the holiday.
The principles included are:
Umoja (unity)
Kujichagulia (self-determination)
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Nia (purpose)
Kuumba (creativity)
Imani (faith)
Drop in to one of the artmaking workshops and exercise your Kuumba (creativity)!
Kwanzaa Creative Arts Workshops
11 A.M. to 3 P.M.
Education Workshop (Sublevel 2) Friday, December 26: Join a crochet circle (Umoja) , Saturday, December 27: Design an African mask (Kujichagulia) , Monday, December 29: Create a dot paint art project (Ujamaa) , Tuesday, December 30: Fashion a magnet or necklace (Nia) , Wednesday, December 31: Construct a card or ornament (Kuumba),
Grab a scavenger hunt from the Visitor Information Desk in the…
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Education Workshop (Sublevel 2). Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwanzaa-2025-at-african-art-tickets-1974926440146?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit africa.si.edu. CANCELLED - NY | Hands On: Celebrate Winter
One-Time Events
Did you know that a familiar holiday decoration has deep Indigenous roots? Celebrate the season with us by learning about cuetlaxochitl (Nahuatl, pronounced: kwet-la-SHO-she), the plant commonly known as poinsettia. Join our Museum Educators to learn about the plant’s cultural significance and trace its journey from Indigenous communities in Mexico and central America to worldwide appreciation. Then, enjoy a hands-on activity by creating your own paper flower to take home. All ages welcome*.
*Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Kwanzaa at ACM: Nia - Celebrating Purpose Through Aromatherapy
One-Time Events
Nia (Purpose)
Celebrating Purpose Through Aromatherapy with Habeebah Muhammad
Join us as we celebrate the 5th day of Kwanzaa – Nia (Purpose). Habeebah Muhammad will lead a workshop on making essential oil sprays that are sure to tantalize your senses and lighten your mood. Throughout the workshop Mrs. Muhammad will lead a discussion on discovering your purpose through your gifts and talents. Materials are provided.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwanzaa-at-acm-nia-day-5-celebrating-purpose-through-aromatherapy-tickets-1969911975748?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: DC History 1900-2000: A Century of Black Arts Education
One-Time Events
In this guided tour, visitors discover the voices and perspectives of individuals who have shaped history in Washington, DC from 1900-2000. A Bold and Beautiful Vision exhibition tells the story of everyday African American life while highlighting how artist-educators made the city a center for Black arts education despite an underfunded, overcrowded, and segregated school system. Visitors will examine artworks, participate in close-looking activities, and contribute to inquiry-based discussions.
Recommended Audience: All ages
Time and Schedule: 2:00 p.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-dc-history-1900-2000-a-century-of-black-arts-education-tickets-1975215415479?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Winter
One-Time Events
Did you know that a familiar holiday decoration has deep Indigenous roots? Celebrate the season with us by learning about cuetlaxochitl (Nahuatl, pronounced: kwet-la-SHO-she), the plant commonly known as poinsettia. Join our Museum Educators to learn about the plant’s cultural significance and trace its journey from Indigenous communities in Mexico and Central America to worldwide appreciation. Then, enjoy a hands-on activity by creating your own paper flower to take home. All ages welcome*.
*Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
Storytime Studio: Walking into the New Year
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. Every Wednesday morning at 10 and 11 AM, 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
3… 2…1…Happy New Year! We’ll spend the last few hours of 2025 exploring artist Annette Lemieux’s painting Nomad (1988), which she created by dipping her feet in paint and walking across her canvas. Alongside friends from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, we’ll walk across our own canvases, journeying toward 2026, read a book about the months of the year, and decorate calendars using styrofoam printmaking.
Featured book: Month by Month a Year Goes Round by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by True Kelley.
, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience
There are two Storytime sessions each Wednesday, with…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Walk This Way.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Little Artist, Big Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the magic of creativity with our storybook reading program for early learners! Through engaging stories, vibrant exhibits, and hands-on art activities, children will explore the legacy of Black arts education in Washington, D.C. building curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for artistic expression.
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/little-artists-big-stories-tickets-1974939189279?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Kwanzaa 2025 at African Art
One-Time Events
Kwanzaa, celebrated annually from December 26 to January 1, is an international holiday that honors African heritage and African American culture. A harvest festival, Kwanzaa is organized around the Nguzo Saba, seven guiding principles that are celebrated individually each day of the holiday.
The principles included are:
Umoja (unity)
Kujichagulia (self-determination)
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Nia (purpose)
Kuumba (creativity)
Imani (faith)
Drop in to one of the artmaking workshops and exercise your Kuumba (creativity)!
Kwanzaa Creative Arts Workshops
11 A.M. to 3 P.M.
Education Workshop (Sublevel 2) Friday, December 26: Join a crochet circle (Umoja) , Saturday, December 27: Design an African mask (Kujichagulia) , Monday, December 29: Create a dot paint art project (Ujamaa) , Tuesday, December 30: Fashion a magnet or necklace (Nia) , Wednesday, December 31: Construct a card or ornament (Kuumba),
Grab a scavenger hunt from the Visitor Information Desk in the…
Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Education Workshop (Sublevel 2). Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwanzaa-2025-at-african-art-tickets-1974926440146?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit africa.si.edu. NY | Hands On: Celebrate Winter
One-Time Events
Did you know that a familiar holiday decoration has deep Indigenous roots? Celebrate the season with us by learning about cuetlaxochitl (Nahuatl, pronounced: kwet-la-SHO-she), the plant commonly known as poinsettia. Join our Museum Educators to learn about the plant’s cultural significance and trace its journey from Indigenous communities in Mexico and central America to worldwide appreciation. Then, enjoy a hands-on activity by creating your own paper flower to take home. All ages welcome*.
*Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Kwanzaa at ACM: Kuumba - Scrapbooking Workshop with Tamara Thomas
One-Time Events
Kuumba (Creativity)
Scrapbooking Workshop with Tamara Thomas
Capture your memories in style as we celebrate the sixth day of Kwanzaa, Kuumba (Creativity)! Artist Tamara Thomas will facilitate this hands-on workshop that invites participants of all ages to explore the art of scrapbooking. Learn creative techniques for arranging photos, adding decorative elements, and telling your personal stories on the page. All materials will be provided. Your scrapbook could leave room to add photos or other mementos to add later to make it uniquely yours. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crafter, you’ll leave with beautiful pages and new inspiration.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwanzaa-at-acm-kuumba-day-6-scrapbooking-workshop-with-tamara-thomas-tickets-1969926394876?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: DC History 1900-2000: A Century of Black Arts Education
One-Time Events
In this guided tour, visitors discover the voices and perspectives of individuals who have shaped history in Washington, DC from 1900-2000. A Bold and Beautiful Vision exhibition tells the story of everyday African American life while highlighting how artist-educators made the city a center for Black arts education despite an underfunded, overcrowded, and segregated school system. Visitors will examine artworks, participate in close-looking activities, and contribute to inquiry-based discussions.
Recommended Audience: All ages
Time and Schedule: 2:00 p.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-dc-history-1900-2000-a-century-of-black-arts-education-tickets-1975215432530?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Celebrate Winter
One-Time Events
Did you know that a familiar holiday decoration has deep Indigenous roots? Celebrate the season with us by learning about cuetlaxochitl (Nahuatl, pronounced: kwet-la-SHO-she), the plant commonly known as poinsettia. Join our Museum Educators to learn about the plant’s cultural significance and trace its journey from Indigenous communities in Mexico and central America to worldwide appreciation. Then, enjoy a hands-on activity by creating your own paper flower to take home. All ages welcome*.
*Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, January 1, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 1, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Kwanzaa at ACM: Imani - Creating Mkeka Mats by Needlepoint
One-Time Events
Imani (Faith)
Creating Mkeka Mats by Needlepoint
In the celebration of Kwanzaa, the Mkeka mat is a symbol of our tradition and history and a foundation to grow and build. Join creative, Ranee Harris, as she facilitates a workshop on using needlepoint to craft a Mkeka mats. Using stencils and following basic patterns, participants will first draw their patterns on the mat and then using various stitches will began to create their mat using selected yarn colors to weave the yarn through the mat.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwanzaa-at-acm-imani-day-7-creating-mkeka-mats-by-needlepoint-tickets-1969942359627?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: DC History 1900-2000: A Century of Black Arts Education
One-Time Events
In this guided tour, visitors discover the voices and perspectives of individuals who have shaped history in Washington, DC from 1900-2000. A Bold and Beautiful Vision exhibition tells the story of everyday African American life while highlighting how artist-educators made the city a center for Black arts education despite an underfunded, overcrowded, and segregated school system. Visitors will examine artworks, participate in close-looking activities, and contribute to inquiry-based discussions.
Recommended Audience: All ages
Time and Schedule: 2:00 p.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-dc-history-1900-2000-a-century-of-black-arts-education-tickets-1975215555899?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Little Artist, Big Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the magic of creativity with our storybook reading program for early learners! Through engaging stories, vibrant exhibits, and hands-on art activities, children will explore the legacy of Black arts education in Washington, D.C. building curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for artistic expression.
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/little-artists-big-stories-tickets-1974939264504?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 10:30 PM – 11:30 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, January 2, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 2, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 2, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Open Studio: Shape Your Year
One time events
Get a fresh start to your New Year with art—join us to celebrate 2026 at Open Studio!
This Saturday, we’ll draw inspiration from Barbara Kruger’s Belief+Doubt as we explore the power of text and image. Create your own New Year’s resolution collage using newspapers, magazines, and other print materials to visualize your intentions for the year to come.
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 required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.
If there are…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Collage for Change.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, January 3, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 3, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Flow and Foundation: Yoga Workshop
One-Time Events
Sessions are suitable for all levels, welcoming beginners, and experienced yogis alike. Ideal for those who enjoy the fusion of music and movement.
Participants should wear clothing that allows for the ease of movement and expression. Bring a yoga mat and optionally, water or a towel to stay hydrated and comfortable throughout the class. Session facilitated by Khepera Wellness.
Must be 18+ to participate.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flow-foundation-yoga-workshop-tickets-1978746984497?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Ink and Press: A Relief Printmaking Workshop
One-Time Events
ef Printmaking Workshop, a hands-on artmaking experience led by Pyramid Atlantic Art Center during the final weekend of A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C. 1900–2000.
Inspired by the exhibition’s rich legacy of printmaking—featuring works by renowned DC-based artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, James Lesesne Wells, Lou Stovall, and Lloyd McNeil, participants will explore the fundamentals of relief printmaking from start to finish.
Relief printmaking is a printmaking process in which an image is carved into a flat surface, such as linoleum or wood. The raised areas of the surface are inked and then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This technique allows artists to create bold lines, strong contrasts, and repeatable images, and has long been used for storytelling, social commentary, and artistic expression.
Under the guidance of Pyramid instructors, participants will learn the full relief printmaking process, beginning with carving a printing plate and…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ink-press-relief-printmaking-workshop-tickets-1978747159019?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Teen Studio: Block (Print) 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 on view at the Hirshhorn.
We’re closing our printmaking unit in a big way this Saturday! Experiment with various printmaking techniques and create a design to use over and over again. We’ll explore how street artist Banksy’s style is influenced by his need to work quickly. Then we’ll use block prints to create designs that can be used many times.
Drop in to Teen Studio every Saturday between 2:30 and 4 PM. Register for the entire school year by emailing HMSGeducation@si.edu (one-time registration covers all sessions). Join one or join them all! Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists at the Hirshhorn and get creative any time. Do this at home! Create your own flower prints using materials you have…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Teen Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Andy Warhol: Flower Power.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, January 4, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 4, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: First floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
A Bold and Beautiful Vision: Closing Reception
One-Time Events
Join us for a last-chance viewing and closing reception of A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C. 1900–2000. Explore the exhibition, engage with the interactive, and enjoy good food and fellowship.
As we honor the closing of the exhibition, we also look ahead. This reception will double as a Vision Board Party, inviting participants to creatively manifest their goals and intentions for 2026. While the exhibition comes to a close, a new year begins—celebrating legacy, reflection, and forward vision.
Food provided by the Anacostia Coordinating Council.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-bold-and-beautiful-vision-closing-reception-tickets-1977860419758?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Spanish-Language Walk-In Tours
One-Time Events
Join a volunteer docent for a lively tour of the National Portrait Gallery in Spanish.
Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-spanish-language-docent-tours-tickets-1530971289339?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, January 5, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Monday, January 5, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Beyond the Frame: An Inside Look at the Portrait Gallery
One-Time Events
Curious about the inner workings of a museum? Ever wondered how conservators care for centuries-old artworks or how lighting designers illuminate exhibitions? Peek behind the curtain at the National Portrait Gallery and hear from staff who work behind the scenes to bring our collection to life.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-frame-an-inside-look-at-the-portrait-gallery-tickets-1334324994979?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Monday, January 5, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Spots & Stripes
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, January 6th is about different patterns found in nature! Families can make close observations of select pieces from our collection, learn why some animals have spots or stripes, and create their own take-home artwork inspired by patterns in nature!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (0-5) and their caregivers and families.
Location: This program is held in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Drawn to Figures
One-Time Events
Join us for a sketching session in our galleries! Create, connect and sketch with fellow artists while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and up. All materials will be provided. Participants are also welcome to bring their own sketchbook.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-drawn-to-figures-tickets-1977612892397?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) For Undergraduates 2026: How to Apply INFO Session
One-Time Events
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Smithsonian Institution, hosts a world-class research staff and unparalleled scientific research collections. NHRE summer internships pair undergraduates with museum scientists to complete a research project in Anthropology, Botany, Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology, Mineral Science, Paleobiology, or Vertebrate Zoology. Although most of the internship time is spent working on the research project, there are additional events including lectures, tours of museum collections, and other activities related to natural history research.
The NMNH is located on the National Mall in the heart of Washington DC. The program runs for 10 weeks starting the day after Memorial Day, May 26 through July 31, 2026. Participating students will receive a stipend of $8,250, and up to $800 for travel to the DC area. We also cover housing in Washington DC area dorm style housing in single-occupancy rooms.
Previous research experience is not required.
Questions about NHRE? Contact us at…
Event Location: Online; Internet connection required. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Captioning.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Understanding Buddhist Ethics
Resident Associate Program
At the heart of Buddhism lies a deep concern with how individuals live—how their actions affect others and contribute to their own awakening. Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, introduces Buddhist ethics. He outlines the differences between Buddhist and Western approaches to ethics and offers a detailed discussion of Buddhist practice, focusing on the role that meditation plays in moral development.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265179?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265179?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
The Future of Seeing: How Imaging Is Changing Our World
Resident Associate Program
Over the centuries, humans have developed tools to see what was once invisible. Cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and MRI machines reveal what the eye cannot, transforming our understanding of the universe and the human body. Daniel K. Sodickson—a physicist and pioneer in biomedical imaging—traces the history of vision, from early eyes in ancient oceans to high-tech devices integrated with artificial intelligence, showing how imaging reshapes the way we see the world, others, and ourselves.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265180?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265180?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Broadway's Boom
Resident Associate Program
Join Tim Dolan, an actor and owner of Broadway Up Close tours in New York City, as he leads a virtual stroll that takes in the theaters at the northern end of the Broadway Theatre District from 47th Street to 54th Street. Along the way, discover how the stage was transformed in the 1960s and 1970s by the introduction of rock musicals with the landmark production of Hair, Via Galactica the first million-dollar show, and a belting orphan with a dog named Sandy.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265511?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265511?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Storytime Studio: Sketch It Out
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. Every Wednesday morning at 10 and 11 AM, 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
We’re starting 2026 by learning how to “Think Like an Artist” by uncovering the processes behind our favorite artists’ work. We’ll begin by exploring Jean-Michel Basquiat’s notebooks, filled with drawings and words that inspired his large-scale paintings. Join us to learn more about Basquiat’s art and begin your very own notebook to inspire your art-making in the new year.
Featured book: To Make by Danielle Davis, illustrated by Mags DeRoma, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each Wednesday, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Poetry from the Funny Pages, Art Project: Guerrilla Zine.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. CANCELLED - Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELLED - Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 7, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
An Art-Treasure Island: Malta's Storied History
Resident Associate Program
The Mediterranean island of Malta has a rich past that reaches back some 7, 000 years—a culture that thrived well before the pyramids of Egypt. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar, who was born on Malta, surveys its geography, history, and heritage as well as its vibrant modern and contemporary art. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265181?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265181?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
An Evening With Frank Goodyear: Teddy Roosevelt in East Africa
One-Time Events
Join the National Museum of Natural History for an author talk and conversation with Frank Goodyear III, co-director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art and former curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery about his new book, Theodore Roosevelt and the Smithsonian Expedition to British East Africa, 1909-10, moderated by Sant Director Kirk Johnson. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the discussion. Registration is free and highly encouraged. Space is filled at a first come first served basis.
Image credit: Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library
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About the book: Accompany Theodore Roosevelt on his Smithsonian safari to East Africa with new context and perspectives.
Immediately after Theodore Roosevelt left the White House, he led an African expedition for the Smithsonian that collected more than 23,000 specimens for its new natural history museum. Alongside his son, Kermit, Smithsonian naturalists, and African porters, they brought…
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/37927937/an-evening-with-frank-goodyearteddy-roosevelt-in-east-africa-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. How to Change a Memory
Resident Associate Program
Memory plays a major role in defining who we are. But what if memory could be changed intentionally, precisely, and for the better? Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez examines how memory manipulation shapes the imagination and sense of self and considers the question of whether erasing a deeply traumatic memory would change who a person is. Ramirez also discusses the ethics of artificially controlling memory.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265510?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265510?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Teotihuacan
Resident Associate Program
Located just outside of modern-day Mexico City, the ruins of Teotihuacan serve as a reminder that dense urban civilizations filled with grandiose monuments to wealth and power were not the exclusive preserve of Eurasian empires. Historian Justin M. Jacobs places the iconic pyramids and temple complexes of Teotihuacan into the history of the settlement of the Americas and development of distinct forms of agriculture and cultural traditions.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265105?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265105?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Washington's Neighborhoods: The Soul of the City
Resident Associate Program
Each of the District’s neighborhoods has its own unique character, rooted in everything from the well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture of Georgetown to the up-to-the-minute transformation of the Southwest Waterfront. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, explores far beyond the National Mall to find the history of the city revealed in neighborhoods that also include LeDroit Park, Dupont Circle, and Mount Pleasant.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265512?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265512?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
CANCELLED - Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELLED - Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Wetlands: Why Do They Matter?
One-Time Events
Our water gets cleaned for free, and floods are stopped in their tracks? Discover the magic of wetlands, our planet's unsung heroes! These amazing spaces are like nature's sponges, but they're disappearing. Learn how communities can work together to bring them back to life and keep our areas safe and healthy.
Presented by: Everett Craddock - Coastal Policy Specialist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant , Dr. Isabel Butler-Viruet - Biogeochemist and Wetland Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Knauss Marine Policy Fellows, Photo Credit: DebMurphy, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Moments of Epiphany: A Reflective Writing Workshop
Resident Associate Program
Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by 19th-century French artist James Tissot’s painting Journey of the Magi and poetry across time, explore the notion of epiphany—those transformative moments in life that spark change and understanding.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265550?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265550?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Ruth Asawa and the Shape of Modernism
Resident Associate Program
Best known for her mesmerizing wire sculptures that blur the line between drawing and sculpture, Ruth Asawa created a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. A second-generation Japanese American, Asawa endured incarceration during World War II and emerged with a lifelong commitment to the transformative power of art and education. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces Asawa’s journey as an artist, activist, and educator. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit) .
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265182?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265182?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
The Art, Joy, and Importance of Observing Insects
Resident Associate Program
Insects are the most abundant animals on the planet, numbering in the quintillions. Oddly enough, they are also the least observed. Naturalist Eric R. Eaton aims to inspire you to watch more bugs and shares what you can do to keep these critters thriving. He highlights the basic tools for watching insects with all five senses, suggests best habitats and circumstances for seeing the most diversity, and offers tips for attracting desirable insects to your yard and garden.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265549?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265549?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Connected Waters, Connected Debris
One-Time Events
Where does plastic come from, and where does it go once it enters our waterways? What kinds of litter actually show up in rivers, lakes, and along the coast? Come explore real examples of freshwater and coastal debris, learn how plastics and other materials travel through connected water systems, and discover how this litter affects our downstream neighbors - from aquatic life to coastal communities and people.
Presented by: Emily Johnson, Freshwater Ecologist and Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant
Photo courtesy of Emily Johnson.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
First Thursdays: Come Look with Us
One-Time Events
Wind down after work with the National Portrait Gallery’s educators as they share their favorite portraits with you. Participants will enjoy close looking and engaging in conversations about artworks in the galleries.
Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-first-thursdays-come-look-with-us-tickets-1233093649299?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Spanish-Language Walk-In Tours
One-Time Events
Join a volunteer docent for a lively tour of the National Portrait Gallery in Spanish.
Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-spanish-language-docent-tours-tickets-1530971289339?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. John Hay: An Architect of American Power
Resident Associate Program
The name John Hay may not be a familiar one, but his impact on American history is profound. He moved from being a confidant of Abraham Lincoln to Secretary of State under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt to negotiator of the treaties that granted the United States exclusive rights to build the Panama Canal. Historian Ralph Nurnberger examines the remarkable life and legacy of a key architect of American power whose diplomatic vision propelled the nation onto the world stage.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265183?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265183?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams – Film Screening and Panel
One-Time Events
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams is a short documentary from Andscape, an imprint of The Walt Disney Company. The documentary explores how basketball has been a tool for connection, organizing, and community participation. Directed by artist and filmmaker Glenn Kaino, the documentary reveals a lesser-known aspect of the Civil Rights Movement, showing how Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists used basketball to reach young people, build trust, and bring communities together. This influence was seen in President Barack Obama’s campaign, where basketball once again became a bridge linking generations, cultures, and coalitions through shared experience. Blending archival footage, animation, and interviews, the film invites viewers to reflect on the importance of sports as a space for leadership, conversation, and civic engagement. Featured in the film are Ambassador Andrew Young, NBA legend Jerry West, journalist Jemele Hill, Michael Strautmanis from The Obama Foundation, and Reginald L. Love, a former…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Oprah Winfrey Theater. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/f2966641-7f9a-467b-a63b-b889664d39fd?tg=082d0f26-2260-7a06-d2cb-d7b2d6ed15b2. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit tickets.si.edu. BlackBox Ensemble
Performances
Seating is limited. Reserve your seat in advance to pick where you sit ($6 fee per seat). Join the standby line for remaining seats on the day of the concert, free of charge.
Don’t miss the bold, contemporary BlackBox Ensemble as they perform an innovative and affecting new work: PIPA BOY: Three Scenes from the Post-Diaspora by Baldwin Giang. BlackBox is the only group performing this work in 2025, and they’ve scaffolded it with thematically resonant pieces by Anthony Cheung, Tania León, and Juhi Bansal.
In PIPA BOY, Baldwin Giang incorporates ensemble, pipa solos, and video installation to present portraits of three places—Taipei, Rome, and his home city of Philadelphia—that are central to his personal and family history. In his words, “contemporary identity needs to be interpreted and renegotiated given the forces behind 21st century globalization.” The creation of this work spanned three years and three continents, where Giang worked with local video artists to collect footage of the scenes each movement…
Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blackbox-ensemble-tickets-1975051593483?aff=oddtdtcreator. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Story Time
One-Time Events
Stamp your calendar for Story Time! Join us every week for a fresh story, a stroll through the Museum, hands-on postal play, and more. Together, we’ll explore mail and all the ways it connects us to people, places, and big ideas.
Stop by anytime—whether you stay for one activity or the whole session, this program will get everyone’s “stamp of approval”.
Meet in the Museum Lobby.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
CANCELLED - Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELLED - Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 9, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Women Artists of the Golden Age: From Antwerp to Amsterdam
Resident Associate Program
Complementing the exhibit "Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600–1750" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a lecture by art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine highlights Dutch and Flemish women’s contributions to 17th- and early 18th-century art. From renowned painters to lesser-known printmakers and sculptors, women shaped the artistic culture of the Low Countries. Despite social constraints, many built successful careers, proving their creative worth in a male-dominated world. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265612?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265612?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Artful Movement | SEL Webinar for Students K–3
Kids and Family
Get ready to observe, chat, and move with art! In these webinars, students (grades K–3) will look carefully at a work of art through facilitated exploration. Then, they will breathe, stretch, and flow through a guided mindful movement. This month’s theme is “Snow Play.”
These sessions are perfect for families, homeschool groups, virtual schools, and teachers who may want to review a recording with their students after the live session. Everyone who registers gets a link to the recording. Each session includes American Sign Language interpretation. Sessions take place on Fridays from 1 to 1:30 p.m. We present these webinars in partnership with Create Calm. Style of Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806); Two girls under umbrella in snowstorm (detail); Japan, early to late 19th century; color on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1898.60.
Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XMIYZN09QQSrPeW2j7couA. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
It Was Just an Accident
Films
Watch the trailer
Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for four Golden Globes, the latest film from Jafar Panahi (No Bears, Offside) is a nail-biting thriller that also raises profound moral questions.
Vahid is a former political prisoner working in a service station. When a man named Eghbal comes in to have his car repaired, Vahid believes Eghbal is the officer who tortured him in prison. Vahid teams up with other former victims to kidnap their erstwhile tormentor. But do they have the right man? And if so, what punishment does he deserve? These issues are debated both among themselves and with Eghbal in a mounting succession of ferocious arguments about the nature of justice and vengeance.
Another of Panahi’s withering condemnations of the Iranian regime, It Was Just an Accident suggests that authoritarianism and political violence only result in vicious circles of oppression and revenge.
Director: Jafar Panahi. Countries: Iran, France, Luxembourg. Released: 2025.…
Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://ffi2026.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 9, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:45 PM.
Morning at the Museum
Kids and Family
The Smithsonian’s Morning at the Museum is a free, sensory-friendly program for children, teenagers, and young adults who are neurodiverse and their families. Come explore the National Museum of Asian Art in the quiet time before our normal opening hours.
More information and registration link coming soon.
Featured Exhibition, Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared presents a remarkable selection of masterpieces generously donated to the Korean nation by the family of Lee Kun-Hee, former Chairman of Samsung. From the premodern past to the present day, the works featured in this exhibition embody the depth and range of Korea’s artistic legacy. This collection traces the evolution of Korean innovation, revealing shifts in style, power, belief, and technology over time. Meanwhile, the writings of those who made, commissioned, used, and collected these works offer insights into the meanings these objects have held throughout history. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery). Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://forms.office.com/r/x1dx1bmEpH. Accessibility: Sensory Programs. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM.
Open Studio: Sketchbook Studio
One time events
This January, we’ll learn how to “Think Like an Artist” at Open Studio. Each week, we’ll get inspired by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Janet Sobel, and Adam Pendleton.
Join us this Saturday as we draw inspiration from artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and his sketchbook practice. Using materials like newspaper clippings, photos, and paint sticks, we will personalize our own sketchbooks!
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 required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Guerrilla Zine.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, January 10, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 10, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Connecting Our Past and Present with Thread: Dizzy Gillespie
One-Time Events
In this virtual workshop, we will combine musical inspiration and the creative process. Join embroiderer, Nichole Sorhaindo and Museum Curator, Kevin Strait, as we explore the artist, Dizzy Gillespie.
Using a pre-printed image of Dizzy on fabric, we’ll add bold stitches and thoughtful details that express the sounds of his horn. You’ll learn beginner-friendly techniques using kits that will be shipped to you with everything you need — fabric, needle, thread, hoop, and pattern — so all you have to do is log in, stitch, and celebrate his legacy.
Space is limited. Tickets include the cost of materials needed for the activity, instructions, and postage. Participants must register by December 28th to ensure the materials arrive on time.
Please note that this is a virtual workshop. For inquiries, please contact NMAAHCEngage@si.edu.
Event Location: Online. Cost: $20. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/0989b54c-b105-2256-e34f-10e3a24b149d?tg=882955d0-38e3-dd97-1cfa-01763dc8410a.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Teen Studio: New Year, New Artist!
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.
This month, we’ll learn to “Think Like an Artist”—we’ll welcome ambiguity, embrace possibility, reveal patterns, and think through making. This Saturday, we’ll check out sketches by Jean-Michel Basquiat in the exhibition Basquiat x Banksy and look closely at the artist’s own sketchbook. Then we’ll head back to Art School to decorate our own sketchbooks with paint, markers, and stickers!
Drop in to Teen Studio every Saturday between 2:30 and 4 PM. Register for the entire school year by emailing HMSGeducation@si.edu (one-time registration covers all sessions). Join one or join them all! Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists in the Hirshhorn collection and get creative…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Teen Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, About the Artist.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. KPop Demon Hunters
Films
Celebrate our blockbuster exhibition Korean Treasures by belting along with the surprise hit of the year (which just happens to feature one of the artworks in the exhibition).
In the film’s universe, girl groups have been secretly trapping hordes of demons underground through their singing. Huntrix, a K-pop girl band, are close to completing the “Golden Hongmoon,” which will trap the evil Gwi-ma and his demon minions forever. But before they can complete their task, they face their toughest opponents yet: an evil boy band! Full of eye-popping animated action and irresistibly catchy tunes, KPop Demon Hunters is a world of musical fun.
Directors: Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Country: United States. Released: 2025. Length: 100 min. Format: DCP. Language: English. Image courtesy of Netflix.
Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaanimation.eventive.org/films/6949be6a8f29f15eb59d1ce2. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:45 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, January 11, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 11, 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. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Virtual Beyond the Studio Workshop: Paper Flowers with Emily Paluska
One-Time Events
SOLD OUT
Emily Paluska of Revery Paper Flora returns with her popular paper flower making workshop. Participants will learn the fundamentals of how to create winter camellias.
Tickets include the cost of materials needed for the activity, instructions, and postage. Materials kits will be shipped to participants in advance of the program. Please note that space is limited for this program, and registration is required. Participants must register by 7 p.m. ET on December 28.
If you live outside of the United States, please contact SAAMPrograms@si.edu before registering. Zoom link will be emailed to participants 24 hours before the program.
Tickets available on December 8
Photo by Laura Metzler Photography.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Cost: SOLD OUT. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR2Kri9. Accessibility: Captioning.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Postwar Italian Cinema
Resident Associate Program
Few national cinemas offer as compelling a mirror to social transformation as Italy’s. In the decades following World War II, Italian filmmakers shaped a legacy of innovation, reflection, and artistry that still resonates on the global stage. In a four-part series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores pivotal moments in Italian cinema from the birth of Neorealism to the bold experimentation of contemporary filmmakers, and how they captured—and questioned—their time. This session focuses on Italian filmmaking from the 1990s to today.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/264717?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/264717?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Black Rabbit, White Rabbit
Films
Watch the Trailer
Longtime attendees of this festival still vividly remember Shahram Mokri’s 2013 film Fish & Cat, a horror movie filmed entirely in one take (including a flashback!). Mokri and his inventive imagination are back on full display in his latest film.
in Black Rabbit, White Rabbit, Escher-like intertwined storylines unfold on and around the set of a film being made by an Iranian director in Tajikistan: A car accident victim comes to believe she is the target of a conspiracy. A crew member is convinced that a prop gun is actually real. An actor arrives on set demanding an audition. These are just a few of the elements of this “wildly ambitious, wryly comic puzzle film” (Lee Marshall, Screen Daily) comprised of spellbinding tracking shots up to 20 minutes long, building up to a spectacular conclusion.
Director: Shahram Mokri. Countries: Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates. Released: 2025. Length: 139 min. Format: DCP. Language: Tajik and Russian with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Deaf…
Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://ffi2026.eventive.org/films. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Women Who Shaped the Musical World: Performers, Patrons, Composers, Muses … and more
Resident Associate Program
Throughout the history of Western music, men have claimed most of the spotlight and accolades as performers, composers, teachers, impresarios, patrons, and instrument makers. Less attention has been paid to the scores of brilliant creative women who played these roles—along with many others—and who were relegated to the less brightly lit corners of the musical word. In a four-session series, speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin brings these women and their often-untold stories to life, showcasing them with live piano performances and historical and contemporary media clips.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265551?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265551?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Dive into the Deep
One-Time Events
Have you ever wondered what lives in the deepest parts of our ocean? Deep-sea ecosystems - from bioluminescent fish to giant tube worms around hydrothermal vents - thrive in these extreme environments. These mysterious habitats cover most of our planet, yet remain largely unexplored. Come learn how scientists explore these remote habitats and why protecting these ecosystems matters for our planet’s future!
Presented by:
Garret O’Donnell - Marine Biologist, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Alyssa Schultz - Marine Scientist & Geographer, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Jason Gronich - Marine Ecologist & Geographer, NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellows
Photos above courtesy of Garret O'Donnell, Alyssa Schultz, and Jason Gronich
Thumbnail image: NOAA Ocean Exploration.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Introduction to Watercolor
Resident Associate Program
Beginning students explore watercolor techniques and learn new approaches to painting through demonstration, discussion, and experimentation.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265195?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265195?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Snapshots of History: The Story of Photography
Resident Associate Program
Photography burst onto the scene in the mid-19th century and has since become one of the enduring forms of art. Art historian Matthew Palczynski traces the development of the earliest photo images, examines how Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen helped photography become a recognized art medium, surveys some of the most notable Pulitzer Prize–winning photographs, and examines the widespread role photography has played in the last 50 years. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265552?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265552?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Monday, January 12, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM.
Hues in Harmony: Color Mixing and Maximizing Your Palette
Resident Associate Program
Refamiliarize yourself with the fundamentals of color theory while learning an approach to mixing color that relies on color harmonies. Gain a deeper understanding of complementary color relationships to more intuitively mix colors and harness color harmonies to better express depth as well as the contrast between light and shadow.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265196?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265196?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: At Home in a Habitat - Arctic Edition
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
On Tuesday, January 13th, explore the different needs animals have that keep them safe and healthy in their habitat with a special focus this week on the Arctic. During this Play Date at NMNH, families will practice identifying needs of animals and create habitats out of different play materials.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5), their caregivers, and families.
Location: This program is held in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation,…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Beginning Drawing - In Person
Resident Associate Program
This introductory course teaches the basic skills needed for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265197?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
Paint Nature's Little Creatures in Watercolor
Resident Associate Program
Learn how to see beauty in the natural world and render it in stunning watercolor paintings, using various watercolor techniques to represent the metallic shell of a beetle, the soft, fuzzy wing of a moth, and the delightful colors of a butterfly.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265198?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265198?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
Watercolor Portraits: Painting from Photographs - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Begin your watercolor portrait journey stress-free as you study photographs of well-known sculptures to practice monochromatic portraits and then build up to painting a portrait of your choice.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265199?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Horse-Powered History: The Long Island Museum’s Carriage Collection
Resident Associate Program
A little over a century ago, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage driving along cobblestone streets was the soundtrack of a nation on the move. The goal of the Carriage Museum—housed in the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook, New York, a Smithsonian Affiliate—is to bring a collection of 185 horse-drawn vehicles from the past to life. Live from the museum, curators share an overview of their collection and highlight some of the most interesting and important vehicles.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265553?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265553?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Intermediate Drawing - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Participants refine and expand their drawing skills through studio practice in traditional media. Sessions focus on classic subject areas such as landscape, portrait, and figure.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265200?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Introduction to Photography - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Whether you want to work in digital or film, this course offers a solid foundation for new photographers ready to learn the basics. Topics include camera functions, exposure, metering, working with natural and artificial light, and composition.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265201?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
Painting Water in Landscapes and Seascapes
Resident Associate Program
Learn simple techniques to create landscape and seascape paintings. Special emphasis is given to watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and masking.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265202?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265202?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Figure Sculpture - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Learn clay techniques and gain an understanding of the human body, gestures, and expressions as you sculpt a portrait, torso, or full-figure piece by working from life.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265204?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Paths of Light: Capturing Light and Atmosphere in Landscapes
Resident Associate Program
Whether you’re drawn to the misty grandeur of Yosemite’s waterfall or the quiet drama of trees silhouetted against the sky, these painting sessions explore how to suggest an atmosphere with flowing washes, layered values, and subtle edges.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265203?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265203?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Gel Plate Journey - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Printmaking using a gel plate offers many options for combining materials, tools, and techniques to achieve an array of effects on both paper and fabric. Beginning with basic acrylic paints, explore the possibilities for layering with stamps, stencils, inks, and acrylic paint markers.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265205?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Introduction to Photography - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Whether you want to work in digital or film, this course offers a solid foundation for new photographers ready to learn the basics. Topics include camera functions, exposure, metering, working with natural and artificial light, and composition.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265206?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
The Veneto: Venice’s Territories and Their Riches
Resident Associate Program
The Veneto comprises the capital city of Venice, built on the waters of the lagoon, and many mainland cities including Padua, Vicenza, and Verona, all of which are important centers for art, culture, and history. Art historian Sophia D’Addio explores the region’s cities and countryside, its elegant villas (including those designed by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio) and its thriving wine industry. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265480?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265480?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM.
The Giant Leap: Space as Evolution's Next Frontier
Resident Associate Program
The story of life has always been one of great transitions and of crossing new frontiers. Each has ushered in waves of innovation, opportunity, and hazard. It might seem there are no more realms for life to venture, but NASA astrobiologist and author Caleb Scharf contends there is one: space. He discusses why he finds that journeying into space is life’s next great transition, an evolution of evolution itself in which he sees humans and technology as catalysts for an interplanetary transformation.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265554?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265554?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Storytime Studio: Layer Up!
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. Every Wednesday morning at 10 and 11 AM, 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
This January, we’ll learn how to “Think Like an Artist.” Join us this week to explore the process artist Adam Pendleton uses to create his layered artworks, currently on view in the exhibition Love, Queen. Pendleton uses screen printing to combine images of his marks on paper into a single composition. We’ll follow his practice, using mark-making materials, stencils, and printing.
Featured book: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each Wednesday, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Story Layers, Art Project: Layered Landscape.
Wednesday, January 14, 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. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, January 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
The Mark of van Gogh
Resident Associate Program
This introduction to Vincent van Gogh's accomplishments in drawing pays particular attention to his unique and instantly recognizable touch. Participants investigate how his imaginative mark making forms his images. In-class exercises revolve around drawing studies of his masterworks. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265207?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265207?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Art Journaling for Self-Expression - In Person
Resident Associate Program
After being guided through mindfulness activities that teach you to make choices in art making, delve into emphasizing process over product and play over perfection. Expect a class grounded in both creative theory and therapeutic principles that deepen your relationship with yourself as an artist and as a person.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265208?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Introduction to Figure Drawing - In Person
Resident Associate Program
This six-session course is an introduction to live figure drawing. Working with charcoal and graphite on paper, students become familiar with classical formats for figure drawing sessions. Through practice, demonstrations, and group discussions, students learn and gain confidence drawing human models.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265209?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: First floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Embroidery 101
Resident Associate Program
For absolute beginners, this new class introduces the art of hand embroidery. Learn the basics of supplies and practice different stitches before starting on a design you create.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265210?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265210?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Henri Rousseau: A Painter's Secrets
Resident Associate Program
Beginning in the late 19th century, French artist Henri Rousseau crafted lush jungle scenes and evocative landscapes that bridged the gap between fantasy and reality, influencing a broad spectrum of artists. Barnes Foundation docent Joe Caliva leads a discussion of “Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets, ” a special exhibition at the museum. Caliva delves into Rousseau’s career and the exhibition, which reunites paintings from collections around the globe. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265513?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265513?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Life of a Sailor
One-Time Events
Have you ever wondered what a sailor's life was like on a traditional wooden ship? Full of hardship and adventure alike, a seagoing life sometimes offered better opportunities than people could find on land. Join our visiting expert to learn about how water has shaped the lives of sailors from the past and present alike. Trace the evolution of sailing from the tall ships of history to the modern ships of today, compare traditional sailing tools with their modern counterparts, test your knot-tying skills, and more!
Presented by: Alia Payne, Maritime Education Coordinator, Department of Maritime Education, Living Classrooms.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Drawing Birds from Around the World
Resident Associate Program
Draw birds from around the world in creative ways using a variety of mediums, including ink, watercolor, and charcoal.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265211?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265211?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
The Wandering Princess
Films
This epic historical drama adapts the memoirs of the Japanese woman who became the princess of occupied Manchuria during World War II. As a Japanese noblewoman, she is forced to marry the younger brother of the soon-to-be disposed Chinese emperor. The personal events of her life in Manchuria brings the political dimensions of this history to new light. In her first film in both color and CinemaScope, director Kinuyo Tanaka realizes with startling depth her ambition to relate a historical saga from a critical woman’s perspective. Description adapted from Janus Films.
Director: Kinuyo Tanaka. Country: Japan. Released: 1960. Length: 102 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Janus Films.
Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaamatinees.eventive.org/schedule/69373a6be70197aee1522e6f. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
The Simplified Figure
Resident Associate Program
It can take years to learn to draw the figure, but this inventive course speeds up the process by getting to the heart of what you really need to know to feel confident sketching people whether working from life, a photograph, or your imagination.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265213?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265213?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Color Theory and Practice
Resident Associate Program
Explore the basics of color theory, including temperature, value, and harmony-creating color schemes. In hands-on projects, learn to use a color wheel with tinting and toning, color charts, and color harmony studies.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265214?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265214?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Resident Associate Program
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice, situated next to the Church of San Rocco, is the seat of the religious society named for San Rocco established in 1478. Over the next decade, the scuola became the richest in the city, so its members decided to construct a monumental building and hire Tintoretto to decorate it. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero showcases several of the scuola’s more than 60 paintings, many done by Tintoretto and his workshop. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265555?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265555?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Natural History on the Big Screen: Walrus: Life on Thin Ice
One-Time Events
The walrus is one of the Arctic’s most enigmatic animals. With three-foot long tusks and a droopy mustache, everyone knows what these marine mammals look like, but few ever see them in the wild. For Kirk Johnson, a paleontologist and Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the walrus has been a creature close to his heart for 40 years. Join us at the National Museum of Natural History for a screening of PBS Nature Walrus: Life on Thin Ice followed by a conversation between Kirk Johnson and PBS Executive Producer Fred Kaufman moderated by Associate Director for Advancement and Communications Virginia Kromm. ----, About the episode: Follow a paleontologist on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of walrus and the threats they face as climate change shrinks the sea ice. Most of the world’s walrus, about 250,000 of them, live in the frigid seas between Russia and Alaska. Johnson embarks on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of these lumbering giants and the…
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/89847141/natural-history-on-the-big-screenwalruslife-on-thin-ice-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.etix.com. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, January 15, 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Shadows First: An Alternative Approach to Drawing Portraits
Resident Associate Program
Explore a fresh approach to drawing portraits by prioritizing the shadows of the face instead of fussing over details right from the start.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265215?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265215?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Intermediate Drawing
Resident Associate Program
Participants refine and expand their drawing skills through studio practice in traditional media. Sessions focus on classic subject areas such as landscape, portrait, and figure.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265216?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265216?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
American Bison Cart Chat
One-Time Events
Join educators in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals to discover more about the Nation's Mammal - the American Bison. Learn how these fascinating animals alter their ecosystem in ways that benefit other animals and their habitat, as well as their importance to humans.
Image by Jean Beaufort, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83971372.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: First floor, Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Creating with Chalk Pastels
Resident Associate Program
Learn how to work with chalk pastels to create dynamic artworks in any genre. Demonstrations of techniques are the main focus, along with the history and versatility of the medium. Students work in their favorite genre: portrait, still life, abstract, or landscape.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265217?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265217?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Virtual Portrait Signs
One-Time Events
Portrait Signs is a Deaf-led tour in American Sign Language. Tours explore a variety of topics related to portraiture, history and biography through the lens of the museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collection.
Note: Registration will close at 11 a.m. on the day of the program, and the Zoom link will be emailed by noon.
Event Location: Online via Zoom. Online Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-portrait-signs-a-tour-in-asl-tickets-723669253217?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-portrait-signs-a-tour-in-asl-tickets-723669253217?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Art Signs: Artful Conversations in ASL
One-Time Events
Curious about American art? Join us for a 30-minute in-person conversation about selected works from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection. This program is presented in American Sign Language (ASL) with voice interpretation for hearing participants.
Image credit: Photo by Mary Tait.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR2Mj0X. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM.
Gallery Talk with Artist David Lenz
One-Time Events
Established in 2015, the Portrait of a Nation Award honors extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people. This year, the National Portrait Gallery honors Temple Grandin, a groundbreaking animal science researcher and advocate for autism awareness. Join us for a gallery talk with David Lenz, the artist behind the remarkable photorealistic painting Brocken Spectre and Glory: Portrait of Temple Grandin.
Event Location: Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees, First Floor. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gallery-talk-with-artist-david-lenz-tickets-1978336136640.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Wine & Design
One-Time Events
Join the National Postal Museum for a happy hour combined with crafting fun! Light snacks, crafting materials, and drinks are included in the price of the ticket.
Attendees must be 21+ to attend and show a valid ID at the door. Please note space is limited and registration is required. Tickets are $25.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Historic Lobby. Cost: $25. Get Tickets/Register: https://npmprograms.ticketspice.com/wine-design. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Indoor Macro Photography
Resident Associate Program
Macro photography isn't just for the summer. Discuss and practice the tips, tricks, and techniques to take incredible macro photos of cut flowers, house plants, jewelry, abstracts, and kitchen utensils in the warmth of your home using light from your windows.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265218?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265218?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
Resident Associate Program
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther famously (and perhaps apocryphally) nailed his 95 Theses condemning papal indulgences to the Wittenberg Castle Church door, giving the Protestant Reformation its official starting date. But the true story of reform is more complicated, and Luther the man more controversial. Historian Amy Leonard of Georgetown University reviews the history and historiography of the Protestant Reformation and Luther’s place within it.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265556?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265556?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Beginning Oil Painting
Resident Associate Program
In this four-week class, students are introduced to materials and techniques for oil painting while laying a strong foundation for further artistic growth.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265219?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265219?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
The Myth and Reality of 100-Foot Waves: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean
Resident Associate Program
For centuries, mariners spun tales of gargantuan waves in the open ocean, annihilating walls of water measuring 100 feet high or taller. Though once dismissed as impossible, new evidence has led oceanographers to determine that we have underestimated how the seas behave at their most ferocious. Journalist and author Susan Casey provides a look at these colossal, ship-swallowing rogue waves—noting that as scientists scramble to understand this phenomenon, others, including extreme surfers, view the giant waves as the ultimate challenge.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265557?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265557?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Creative Mind Mapping
Resident Associate Program
Take your ideas from banal to beautiful by learning how to create mind maps worthy of framing. Choose from three styles to illustrate your thoughts and goals.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265220?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265220?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Story Time
One-Time Events
Stamp your calendar for Story Time! Join us every week for a fresh story, a stroll through the Museum, hands-on postal play, and more. Together, we’ll explore mail and all the ways it connects us to people, places, and big ideas.
Stop by anytime—whether you stay for one activity or the whole session, this program will get everyone’s “stamp of approval”.
Meet in the Museum Lobby.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Meet in the Historic Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required.
Friday, January 16, 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. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. CANCELLED - Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
¡Carritos! A Learning Activity Cart Program
American Latino Museum
Selected Fridays and Saturdays • 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31
The National Museum of the American Latino will present a series of mobile-cart activities and experiences in front of the Molina Family Latino Gallery in the American History Museum, as part of the Latino Museum’s learning program during the holiday season.
These 10-minute hands-on mobile-cart activity experiences will allow visitors of all ages to create and connect with items in the Latino Museum collection and themes from past and future exhibitions, as well as items from other Smithsonian collections or content.
Free. No registration is required.
For 8th grade- Reading Level
The National Museum of the American Latino is hosting fun, hands-on activities right outside the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the American History Museum. These are mobile-cart activities — basically small stations where you can stop by and join in. , Each activity lasts about 10 minutes. , You’ll get to make things and explore…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery. Cost: Free! ¡Gratis!
Friday, January 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
CANCELLED - Wonderplace - DELAYED OPENING
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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Palladio: Architect of the Western World
Resident Associate Program
Andrea Palladio’s villas, palaces, and churches encompass the mathematical harmony, classical inspiration, and humanist ideals that defined the Renaissance in Italy. His architectural language crossed eras and oceans, inspiring everything from English country estates to American civic buildings and even the White House. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo explores Palladio’s life, works, and philosophy, revealing how a former stonemason from Vicenza shaped the foundations of Western architecture. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265453?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265453?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
History Film Forum: "Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the UFW"
One-Time Events
The History Film Forum proudly presents Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
Delano Manongs tells the story of farm labor organizer Larry Itliong and the Filipino farm workers who inspired one of the American farm labor movement’s defining moments—the Delano Grape Strike of 1965, which led to the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). While the movement is often associated with Cesar Chavez and understood as a Chicano-led effort, Filipinos played an essential, foundational role. Itliong, a seasoned labor organizer, mobilized a group of 1500 Filipino workers to strike against the grape growers of Delano, California—sparking a multiracial collaboration between Filipino, Chicano, and other ethnic workers that endured for years.
After the screening, enjoy a panel conversation with the film’s director, Maríssa Aroy; Dillon Delvo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Little Manila Rising; and Sam Vong, Curator of …
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center: Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History. Cost: Free, tickets required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/history-film-forum-delano-manongs-forgotten-heroes-of-the-ufw-tickets-1975325286105?aff=trumba. Related Exhibition: How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Open Studio: Love, Queen
One time events
This January, we’ll learn how to “Think Like an Artist” at Open Studio. Each week, we’ll get inspired by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Janet Sobel, and Adam Pendleton.
Join us this Saturday as we draw inspiration from Pendleton’s Hirshhorn exhibition Love, Queen. Using materials like spray paint, historic photos, and stencils, we’ll create our own story-filled collages.
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 required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Collage for Change.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, January 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Augustine of Hippo: Christianity at the Crossroads
Resident Associate Program
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) harnessed the philosophical heritage of antiquity to express a new Christian philosophy, one that would have a huge impact—and shape how it would be seen for two millennia. Augustine scholar Scott MacDonald of Cornell University explores some of the concepts of faith, good and evil, human nature, and the search for the divine as reflected in Augustine’s major works.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265483?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265483?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
CANCELLED - Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Take this drawing fundamentals class as your first step in learning to draw. You learn to translate that stunning image in your mind or what you see in front of you onto paper, building a strong foundation for your drawing or painting practice.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265221?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:45 AM – 12:45 PM.
DC | Drawing Stories: Family Art Day
One-Time Events
Learn about historical and contemporary ledger art and narrative art through tours of the exhibition Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains, along with story time and family-friendly hands-on activities.
SCHEDULE, Level 4, Landing 11 AM–1 PM, 2–4 PM | Button Making Make a narrative art inspired magnetic button to take home. , , Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center 11:15 AM | Story Time Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring the children’s book Tasunka by Donald F. Montileaux. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, and natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the Lakota community and the tradition of narrative art. , , *Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3.
**Recommended for visitors ages…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Levels 3 and 4. Cost: Free. Related Exhibition: Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Quilting Together: A Virtual Open Studio with Expert Guidance for Your Quilt Project
Resident Associate Program
Work on your own quilt project(s) in a focused way over 4 weeks with expert guidance. Topics include material selection, design, work planning, construction techniques, and finishing advice.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265222?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265222?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
¡Carritos! A Learning Activity Cart Program
American Latino Museum
Selected Fridays and Saturdays • 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31
The National Museum of the American Latino will present a series of mobile-cart activities and experiences in front of the Molina Family Latino Gallery in the American History Museum, as part of the Latino Museum’s learning program during the holiday season.
These 10-minute hands-on mobile-cart activity experiences will allow visitors of all ages to create and connect with items in the Latino Museum collection and themes from past and future exhibitions, as well as items from other Smithsonian collections or content.
Free. No registration is required.
For 8th grade- Reading Level
The National Museum of the American Latino is hosting fun, hands-on activities right outside the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the American History Museum. These are mobile-cart activities — basically small stations where you can stop by and join in. , Each activity lasts about 10 minutes. , You’ll get to make things and explore…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery. Cost: Free! ¡Gratis!
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Wirework Intensive: Fabulous Findings
Resident Associate Program
Wrap, weave, hammer, and bend your way to a new set of wire-working skills. Students are introduced to a variety of step-above-basic wire-working tools as well as household items that can be used to shape wire-based projects.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265223?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265223?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Back-to-Basics Knitting Boot Camp
Resident Associate Program
Whether you know how to knit a scarf but not much more, used to knit but now feel rusty, or are confident in your beginning knitting skills but want to make sure you're ready for an intermediate class or project, this workshop is for you.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265224?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265224?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12:15 PM – 3:45 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Paper, Paint, and Scissors - In Person
Resident Associate Program
What masterpieces can you create with paper, paint, and scissors? Cultivate your personal style and experiment with representational and abstract subjects in your compositions.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265226?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Introduction to Italic Hand Calligraphy
Resident Associate Program
Learn how to apply the elegant Italic script for basic projects using various colors and papers. This versatile and legible alphabet translates well into many practical and artistic applications.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265227?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265227?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Teen Studio: Playful Sculptures
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.
This month, we’ll learn to “Think Like an Artist”—we’ll welcome ambiguity, embrace possibility, reveal patterns, and think through making. This Saturday, we’ll check out Moonmad (1944) by Max Ernst and explore how the artist created sculptures to experiment and play when he was not painting. Then we’ll head to Art School to create a playful sculpture using everyday materials.
Drop in to Teen Studio every Saturday between 2:30 and 4 PM. Register for the entire school year by emailing HMSGeducation@si.edu (one-time registration covers all sessions). Join one or join them all! Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists at the Hirshhorn and get creative any time. Do this at…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Teen Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, About the Artist.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Beginning Oil Painting - In Person
Resident Associate Program
In this course, gain the technical background and experience you need to get started as a painter. Working from museum masterpieces, still-life arrangements, or your favorite photos, explore basic painting techniques, including color-mixing, scumbling, and glazing.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265228?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati (Saturday series)
Resident Associate Program
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati—in this popular four-concert series on Saturdays. This concert features music composed by Haydn, Bethoven, and Dvorák.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of American History Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/264803?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, January 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. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Drawing Light and How the Masters Did It
Resident Associate Program
In this class, learn the strategies artists such as Rembrandt, Daumier, Cézanne, and Vermeer used to harness light and unify, intensify, and give dimension to their images. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265229?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
CANCELLED - Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Intermediate Oil Painting - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Expand on your technical background and grow your practice as an oil painter. This class provides students with the opportunity to work on personal projects, set up a still-life arrangement, and explore figure painting from a live model. Unfurl your style with support and feedback from the instructor.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265230?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM.
Small Sculptures in Wood - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Students create sculptures in wood based on their own ideas, while learning to use basic tools. The course focuses on assembly techniques rather than carving.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265231?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM.
Beginning Drawing
Resident Associate Program
This introductory course teaches the basic skills needed for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265232?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265232?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Art Studio
One-Time Events
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.
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.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Figure Drawing - In Person
Resident Associate Program
In this intermediate level class, students revisit fundamentals of human anatomy and experiment with techniques and approaches.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265233?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 2:15 PM – 5:15 PM.
Spanish-Language Walk-In Tours
One-Time Events
Join a volunteer docent for a lively tour of the National Portrait Gallery in Spanish.
Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-spanish-language-docent-tours-tickets-1530971289339?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati (Sunday series)
Resident Associate Program
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati—in this popular four-concert series on Sundays. This concert features music composed by Haydn, Bethoven, and Dvorák.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of American History Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/264807?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
CANCELLED - Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, January 19, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Remember the Dream: A Day Honoring Dr. King
One-Time Events
Join us on Monday, January 19, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Remember the Dream: A Day Honoring Dr. King. Enjoy drop-in activities throughout the museum, including exploring the significance of HBCUs in NMAAHC’s new exhibition, At the Vanguard, visiting the Typewriter Poets to receive a personalized poem, participating in a service project and a presentation on floral art. Families can celebrate at Dr. King’s birthday party on the 4th Floor Overlook with creative crafts, balloon art, and a sing-along to Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.” Plus, experience live musical performances by Rex Carnegie and the House Band in Heritage Hall at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. honoring Dr. King’s legacy through music.
Tickets available starting on December 29 at 10:00 am.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: The Concourse, Heritage Hall, L2 and L4. Cost: Free. Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/0baea0d9-4ba6-4908-9f73-15a4451b1c8d?tg=64a6bb6e-9bcf-70ea-6ebe-3501b85e3418.
Monday, January 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Estudio de Cuentos: Tejiendo Juntos
One time events
Estudio de Cuentos is held every third Tuesday of the 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: Weaving Together, will be held Wednesday, January 21. 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
En la Escuela de Arte, aprendemos a “Pensar cómo una artista,” pero ¿qué realmente significa? Esta semana, descubriremos cómo los artistas toman inspiración…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Weave It Together.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. CANCELLED - Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Investigating Insects
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about insects! Families can make close observations of select pieces from our insect collection, learn about what makes an insect an insect, and create their own take-home craft to help them remember key physical traits of insects!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum. Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Tiny Vampires: The Unique World of Freshwater Mussels
One-Time Events
Freshwater mussels are a diverse family of shellfish that can be found in most freshwater systems in the United States. Blending into the stream floor, these unsuspecting shellfish lead an interesting life. Their life cycle involves a parasitic stage, in which they live on the gills of fish. Come discover the unique world of freshwater mussels!
Presented by: Dr. Rachael Finigan, Aquatic Ecologist, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, NOAA National Sea Grant Office
Photos courtesy of Rachael Finigan.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
DC | Makah Dancers
One-Time Events
The Makah Dancers, joined by the Makah Tribal Council, perform traditional dances and songs to celebrate the installation of the 1855 Treaty with the Makah in Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations (Level 4 and online). The performance will be preceded by brief remarks led by Janine Ledford, Executive Director of the Makah Cultural and Research Center (MCRC) in Neah Bay, Washington. The MCRC is part of an ongoing collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian through the Tribal Museum Partner Program, which facilitates the return or loan of cultural items to home communities for display, research, and cultural traditions. A Makah Tribal Councilmember will share the community’s perspective on the continued impact of the 1855 Treaty and the importance of protecting and exercising treaty rights such as those related to natural resources and long-standing cultural practices.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1, Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Knitting for Beginners - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Learn the fundamentals of knitting, including casting on, basic knit and purl stitches, increasing, decreasing, and binding off. Students learn by practice and may start a knitting project during class.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265234?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
Principles of Abstraction
Resident Associate Program
Discover the basic elements of abstraction, a very important element of the visual arts, and create your own exciting and innovative works.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265235?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265235?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:15 PM – 9:00 PM.
Continued Knitting - In Person
Resident Associate Program
Do you have the basics down and feel ready to explore the wider world of knitting? Enjoy a relaxed, supportive atmosphere to learn techniques such as cables and lace as well as refine your existing skills.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265236?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
The Birth of the Sitcom in Ancient Greece
Resident Associate Program
The Greek comic poet Menander, who lived in the 4th century B.C.E. is not exactly a household name, but he greatly influenced what people see when they go to the movies or watch TV shows. Starting in the 320s B.C.E. Menander wrote new types of plays that featured romance and familial relationships rather than politics, the usual theme. Classics professor Mitch Brown illustrates how, through his successors, Menander helped shape theater in the Renaissance—ultimately becoming responsible for domestic and relationship-focused plays, movies, and sitcoms that are still popular today.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265558?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265558?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
The Papal Schism: A House Divided
Resident Associate Program
In the late 14th century, the Catholic Church became a house divided against itself when it was confronted by two popes claiming to be the rightful heir of St. Peter. The crisis persisted for decades and even led to the election of a third pope. What has become known as the Papal Schism or the Western Schism weakened the papacy and had long-lasting effects. Historian John Freymann examines the context and causes of the schism and highlights the theological and ecclesiastical consequences of this episode in the history of Catholicism.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265559?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265559?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Art + History: John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence
Resident Associate Program
Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw returns to the Art + History series to look at great works of art in their historical context. In examining John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence, he presents two narratives in tandem: the story of the Declaration of Independence and the events preceding and directly after July 4, 1776, and how they ultimately intersected with the multifaceted career of Trumbull, a soldier, artist, and diplomat who was on a first-name basis with the founders of the country. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265560?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223. Cost: Click here to view prices. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/265560?utm_source=SI-Trumba-Calendar&utm_medium=SIWeb&utm_campaign=2025FY-Trumba-SA-ev&utm_content=SA-Trumba-event&promo=276223.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.