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Science Solstice Sunday
Special Zoo Events
Each year, the Smithsonian marks the official beginning of summer —the Solstice — by hosting weekend programs and performances throughout the day and night.
Celebrate the start of summer with our free, family‑friendly Science Solstice Sunday, part of the Smithsonian’s annual Solstice Weekend!
Follow animal clues in an interactive scavenger hunt across the Zoo for a chance to win a prize, enjoy special animal demonstrations, and explore hands-on activity stations from Smithsonian scientists, researchers, and experts working around the world to protect wildlife and study nature, including:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, which works with tropical ecosystems and studies wildlife in Panama, Smithsonian STARS program, which connects rural classrooms to the cosmos through telescopes, educational programs, and more, Smithsonian Science Education Center, which transforms K-12 education through science, Center for Population Ecology, which works to improve Zoo reproduction outcomes, EEHV Lab, a worldwide…
Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Throughout the Zoo. Cost: FREE (passes required for entry). Get Tickets/Register: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/science-solstice-sunday. Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Sensory Programs.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu. Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Explore the past and present of Smithsonian Gardens and American gardening in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue for a tour of this iconic space.
This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel. Rideshare drop-off location: 1050 Independence Avenue, SW
Recommended metro station: L'Enfant Plaza (Blue, Silver, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines).
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden. Tour begins just inside the gates on Independence Avenue. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
DC | Hands On: Cornhusk Dragonfly
One-Time Events
Corn, also known as maize, has been a vital crop for Native peoples of the Americas for thousands of years, providing food, materials, and cultural meaning. Every part of the corn plant has a purpose—even the husks. In this hands‑on activity, visitors will learn about the history and importance of corn while transforming dried cornhusks into a colorful dragonfly to take home. A fun way to explore creativity and discover new respect for this important plant. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and Mary Livingston Ripley Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Find moments of peace and inspiration during this tour of the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden and the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Jefferson Drive, SW entrance to the Arts and Industries Building.
This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel. Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560
Please note the tour begins on the Jefferson Drive side of the building. Cut through the Enid A. Haupt Garden or Mary Livingston Ripley Garden to reach Jefferson Drive.
Recommended metro station: L'Enfant Plaza (Blue, Silver, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines).
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Tour begins outside the Jefferson Drive entrance to the Arts and Industries Building. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
DC | Chef Alex Cooks with Corn
One-Time Events
Executive Chef Alex Strong of the museum’s Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe will demonstrate two dishes using corn. Also known as maize, corn has been a vital crop for Native peoples of the Americas for thousands of years, providing food, materials, and cultural meaning. Hear Chef Alex’s tips and tricks for working with this versatile food in the kitchen, and enjoy samples while they last! Don’t forget to make time to enjoy lunch or a snack at Mitsitam before you conclude your visit.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Culinary Arts.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Pollinator Party
Smithsonian Gardens
Get ready for Pollinator Week 2026 with the Smithsonian Gardens Bug Mobile! Have fun with hands-on activities. Discover why pollination matters and learn what you can do to help pollinators in your community. Check out the new Growing Tomorrow exhibition to discover the important role native plants play in gardening today. This drop-in program is designed for all ages.
This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel. Rideshare drop-off location: 10th Street, NW + Constitution Avenue, NW
Recommended metro station: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green and Yellow lines) or Federal Triangle (Blue, Silver and Orange lines)
This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Pollinator Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.
This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel. Rideshare drop-off location: 10th Street, NW + Constitution Avenue, NW
Recommended metro station: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green and Yellow lines) or Federal Triangle (Blue, Silver and Orange lines).
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: Pollinator Garden at the National Museum of Natural History. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
DC | Chef Alex Cooks with Corn
One-Time Events
Executive Chef Alex Strong of the museum’s Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe will demonstrate two dishes using corn. Also known as maize, corn has been a vital crop for Native peoples of the Americas for thousands of years, providing food, materials, and cultural meaning. Hear Chef Alex’s tips and tricks for working with this versatile food in the kitchen, and enjoy samples while they last! Don’t forget to make time to enjoy lunch or a snack at Mitsitam before you conclude your visit.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Culinary Arts.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
DC | Hands On: Cornhusk Dragonfly
One-Time Events
Corn, also known as maize, has been a vital crop for Native peoples of the Americas for thousands of years, providing food, materials, and cultural meaning. Every part of the corn plant has a purpose—even the husks. In this hands‑on activity, visitors will learn about the history and importance of corn while transforming dried cornhusks into a colorful dragonfly to take home. A fun way to explore creativity and discover new respect for this important plant. All ages welcome.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
DC | Touch & Hear the Universe
One-Time Events
Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater. Cost: FREE. Categories: Celebrations. After Five. Kids & Families. Demonstrations.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
William Blake: Poet and Painter
All Programs
William Blake, a leading Romantic artist and poet, fused image and text in his “illuminated books,” inspired by medieval manuscripts. These illustrated volumes let him confront themes of religion, poverty, inequality, and human existence. His etched poems and images created a true union of painting and poetry, most famously in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Art historian David Gariff offers insights into Blake’s achievements as both poet and artist. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/william-blake?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/william-blake?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
Before Camp 1
All Programs
Parents must bring campers to the assigned Before-Camp room in the Ripley Center to sign in daily. At 9 a.m. campers will be brought up to Drop-off and then to their camps.
Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: Ripley Center. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/before-camp-1?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Kids & Families.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
Abstract Artists
All Programs
Abstract art opens up a boundless realm of creativity. From finger painting and blending watercolors campers explore colors, shapes, and textures in unique ways. Visits to the Hirshhorn, American Art Museum, and the National Gallery introduce campers to artists such Kandinsky, Pollack Gillam, and Alma Thomas. Throughout the week, campers create their own works of art using various mediums for a colorful end of the week exhibit.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/abstract-artists?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Comics 101
All Programs
Campers hone their storytelling skills in one of the most accessible and dynamic ways we know: comics! Inspired by the digitized collection of classic comic books, zines and other sequential art around the Smithsonian, they discover the importance of comics to our past, present, and future. Campers refine their skills in every step of the process—from writing, to drawing, to even the art of the word balloon—as they self–publish original visual stories for a Friday release.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/comics-101?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Earth Explorers
All Programs
Campers discover the wonders of the spinning rock beneath our feet. They spend the week exploring our incredible planet, piecing together the prehistoric supercontinent Pangea, and learning how the earth became what it is today. Visits to the Natural History Museum offer opportunities for close–up looks at fascinating rocks and fossils before making their own versions. Campers conduct experiments and research volcanoes, earthquakes, and extreme weather, build models, and create a new planet to add to the Milky Way.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/earth-explorers?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Eco-Heroes
All Programs
Campers discover fun ways to make our planet a bit greener—and better for all of us—as they learn about the ecological connections between the people and creatures that call it home. They explore many kinds of living organisms as they dig into gardening, explore ocean conservation efforts, conduct their own science experiments, and create eco–themed art. Visits to museums and gardens inspire campers to build an eco–friendly world.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/eco-heroes?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Fabulous Flora
All Programs
Campers discover the wide, wild, fabulous world of plants. They dig into the science behind the boundless greenhouse of plant life on planet Earth, from a 16–million–year–old tree to the amazingly resilient “resurrection plant." Visits to the Natural History Museum and the U.S. Botanic Garden help campers discover the benefits of individual plants, learn to identify them, and gain a better understanding of their life cycles. They plant and grow their own flora and create nature–inspired artwork for a fabulously green exhibit.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fabulous-flora?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Flights of Fantasy
All Programs
Do you dream of dragons, elves, or alien worlds? Following in the tradition of great fantasy literature like the Harry Potter stories, The Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan, campers explore the genres of fantasy and science–fiction by creating their own mystical worlds while honing their writing skills. They create a map of their imaginary realm, play fantasy games, and improvise and perform scenes from their favorite fairy tales and sci–fi stories. Smithsonian museums and the mysteries they hold provide inspiration for the new worlds campers create in this hands–on, interdisciplinary camp.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/flights-of-fantasy?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Go Green
All Programs
Campers explore the possibilities and solutions that address some of our planet's most significant challenges through new ways of living, learning, and working toward a shared sustainable future. Visits to the Natural History Museum, the U.S. Botanic Gardens, and Smithsonian gardens pair with the Institution’s science resources to inspire civic action as campers undertake experiments, design campaigns, and develop sustainable solutions for daily challenges.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/go-green?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Marine Quest
All Programs
Campers spend a week discovering the amazing watery worlds hidden beneath the waves. They explore the creatures that live in the depths of the ocean and the diverse ecosystems through visits to the National Zoo and the Natural History Museum. Campers conduct experiments, create artworks, and play games designed to develop a new perspective on the 71% of the earth’s surface covered by water.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/marine-quest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Ocean Mysteries
All Programs
Dive through the zones of the ocean to reveal secrets deep beneath the waves. How and why do some deep–sea creatures glow? How do whales communicate from hundreds of miles away? Where is the deepest part of the ocean? How important are microscopic plankton? Campers explore these mysteries and more through experiments, crafts, games and visits to the Natural History Museum.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/ocean-mysteries?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Painting Explorations
All Programs
Campers spend the week learning how to draw and paint with watercolors and acrylics, gaining an understanding of techniques and color theory. They study masterworks at the Hirshhorn, National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Castle’s beautiful Haupt Garden, and U.S. Botanic Garden. They show off the artistic results in a Friday exhibition.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/painting-explorations?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Soldiers & Dioramas: WW2: Battle of the Bulge 1944–45
All Programs
Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive campaign during World War II that marked the last major German offensive on the Western Front and was a pivotal moment in the Allied victory in Europe. Campers explore the battle through discussions and historical simulations using information from maps, timelines, and museum visits. They create dioramas and fight battles with miniature soldiers, as well as engage in group–strategy games using large geographical maps. Fictional and nonfiction accounts, graphic novels, reference books, and related films and documentaries give campers a grounding in the period’s history.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/soldiers-amp-dioramas-ww2-battle-of-bulge-1944-ndash-45?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
The Art of Recycling
All Programs
Who knew that by reusing, recycling, and repurposing everyday items you would be able to create amazing sculptural art? Campers learn about recycling and how artists have used trash to make both beautiful art and functional objects. On museum visits, they view sculptures fashioned from recycled game pieces, a coral reef made from trash found on the beach and explore innovative creations to examine the inner workings of the battle on trash. They bend, mold, and reuse ordinary materials, much like the revolutionary artists of the 21st century.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-of-recycling?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
The Great American Road Trip
All Programs
As the song goes, "From California to the New York island, this land was made for you and me." Travel America through time and space to celebrate 250 years of unique experiences that define the nation. Campers visit the 48 continental states without leaving the National Mall with trips to the African American History and Culture Museum, American History Museum, American Indian Museum, and more, and explore unique roadside attractions like drive–in movie theaters, state fairs, and historic landmarks.
Event Location: Smithsonian. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/great-american-road-trip-3A0E11?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Kids & Families.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
YTA Boot Camp
All Programs
Learn the skills needed to become an outstanding future Youth Teaching Assistant (YTA) in a one–week intensive training program guided by Smithsonian instructors and the camp program manager. Participants learn how to successfully work with young campers, build a toolkit of games and activities, practice navigating busy Smithsonian museums with groups, and gather other practical tips to help campers get the most out of their experience. Students entering grade 9 in the fall of 2026 or who are 14 years old are eligible to participate. Completing the boot camp offers applicants a priority for YTA selection the following summer.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/yta-boot-camp?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Mighty Young Composers!
One time events
This is a two-week program that requires registration in advance.
Capacity is limited. Slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free. To register, email HMSGeducation@si.edu.
June 22, 2026–July 1, 2026 | Monday through Friday
Morning Session (rising 3rd and 4th graders): 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Afternoon Session (rising 5th and 6th graders): 1–2:30 PM
Public concert: Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, 4 PM, What if a painting could become a piece of music?
In this multiday workshop, students (rising 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders) will explore how artists across disciplines inspire one another and develop the skills to create and compose their own music.
Inspired by the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers program, launched 30 years ago by composer and bassist Jon Deak, and in conjunction with the Hirshhorn’s resident new-music ensemble, the 21st Century Consort, the Hirshhorn’s Mighty Young Composers! program is led by teaching artists Theresa Cigan, Noam Faingold, and Mikhail Johnson.…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Ring Auditorium. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 2:30 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Community Futures Week
One-Time Events
Calling all teens! The National Portrait Gallery will host a four-day camp during the Civic Season, which runs from June 22 to the Fourth of July. Teens will explore their role in shaping the future for themselves and their community through art, discussions and interactive activities. Participants can connect with peers and dive into thought-provoking art making to explore what lies ahead in their lives and careers. Participants will also meet with museum staff to learn about career paths in the museum. Free and open to teens entering 9th–12th grades; lunch will be provided.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-futures-week-tickets-1985367175667?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
After Camp 1
All Programs
Parents must sign out their campers from the After-Camp room daily in the Ripley Center. Snack provided.
Event Location: Ripley Center. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/after-camp-1?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM.
Andrew Wyeth: An Appreciation
All Programs
Andrew Wyeth, a leading 20th-century American realist, drew lifelong inspiration from the rural worlds of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Cushing, Maine. Though labeled a realist, he viewed himself as an abstractionist, stripping away detail to reveal emotional truth. His output spans drawings, watercolors, drybrush, and tempera, depicting landscapes, still lifes, and local people with empathy. Art historian Bonita Billman highlights a range of works from Wyeth’s extraordinary oeuvre. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/andrew-wyeth?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/andrew-wyeth?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
50 Years that Reforged the Roman Empire: Chaos, Conquest, and Transformation
All Programs
Historian Colin Elliott traces Rome’s shift from the long stability of the Pax Romana to a period of invasions, civil wars, economic strain, and plague. Despite dynastic collapse and fragmentation, the empire showed remarkable resilience. By 285, what survived was no longer the classical empire of senators and citizen-legions, but a more centralized, militarized state strong enough to survive the collapse of the West and carry the Roman name for another thousand years in the East.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fifty-years-that-reforged-roman-empire?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fifty-years-that-reforged-roman-empire?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Community Futures Week
One-Time Events
Calling all teens! The National Portrait Gallery will host a four-day camp during the Civic Season, which runs from June 22 to the Fourth of July. Teens will explore their role in shaping the future for themselves and their community through art, discussions and interactive activities. Participants can connect with peers and dive into thought-provoking art making to explore what lies ahead in their lives and careers. Participants will also meet with museum staff to learn about career paths in the museum. Free and open to teens entering 9th–12th grades; lunch will be provided.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-futures-week-tickets-1985367175667?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Pollinator Party!
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday is all about pollinators! From bats to bees, we will be celebrating pollinators for pollinator week. Families can make close observations of select pieces from our collection, learn about how pollinators help the planet, and create their own take-home art inspired by pollinators!
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 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.
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Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Great Hall Story Time
One-Time Events
Join us in the Portrait Gallery’s historic Great Hall for an interactive story time that gets us up close and personal with art! Together we will look closely at portraits and read stories as we learn more about the people who have shaped history.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Great Hall. Cost: Free. No registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-hall-story-time-tickets-1984332181973?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Darwin: A Biography
All Programs
Few men shook the Victorian world like Charles Darwin. His theory of evolution, born in the age of empire and rising to prominence in the age of capitalism, transformed science, culture, and history and left a profound mark on literature, art, philosophy, religion, politics, and economics. Historian and author Janet Browne reveals Darwin as both a brilliant scientist and a man navigating the social and intellectual currents of his time, demonstrating how one naturalist forever changed the way life on Earth is understood.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/darwin-biography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/darwin-biography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Expert: History of Drag
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet curator Katherine Ott and learn about the history of drag. Drag is a performance art known for its exuberant performance of gender, and it has a long history—from at least as far back as Ancient Greece, continuing through Elizabethan theater, vaudeville, and World War II, through to the present. While drag is largely associated with the LGBTQ+ community today, it includes practitioners of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Disneyland and the Rise of Automation
All Programs
Disneyland’s 1955 debut revealed the hidden world of automation by turning postwar industrial and military technologies into imaginative attractions. Historian Roland Betancourt examines how Disney engineers adapted tools like missile-testing magnetic tape and programmable logic controllers to animate experiences from the Enchanted Tiki Room to Space Mountain. He argues these innovations eased public anxieties about automation while reflecting broader technological shifts—from factory systems to emerging AI—tracing how Disneyland reshaped cultural understanding of machines and modernity.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/disneyland-and-rise-of-automation?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/disneyland-and-rise-of-automation?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Stories from the American Songbook
All Programs
Explore and enjoy glorious songs from the great American Songbook with stories about their long, often-unexpected lives. Three-time Emmy Award–winning writer and documentary filmmaker Sara Lukinson’s abundant sampling of clips—and lively storytelling—make for two joyful and moving evenings to spend with Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin, along with the artists who keep their songs alive. This session focuses on George and Ira Gershwin.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/stories-from-american-songbook-1K0712?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/stories-from-american-songbook-1K0712?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Storytime Studio: Wonderful Water
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Guest educators from the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) will help us cool off from the summer heat with a story about water. We’ll discover how artists with work on view at both the Hirshhorn and NMAA are inspired by water and take inspiration ourselves through movement and art activities.
After the program, head over to the NMAA’s exhibition Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings to continue appreciating water’s many wonders.
Featured book: Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book about Water by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryoji Arai, translated by David…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Earth Sermon—Beauty, Love and Peace.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Community Futures Week
One-Time Events
Calling all teens! The National Portrait Gallery will host a four-day camp during the Civic Season, which runs from June 22 to the Fourth of July. Teens will explore their role in shaping the future for themselves and their community through art, discussions and interactive activities. Participants can connect with peers and dive into thought-provoking art making to explore what lies ahead in their lives and careers. Participants will also meet with museum staff to learn about career paths in the museum. Free and open to teens entering 9th–12th grades; lunch will be provided.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-futures-week-tickets-1985367175667?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Expert: Guess the Gadget
One-Time Events
As the years pass, objects' identities can be forgotten, especially if they look strange. Curators often work as history detectives, recovering lost stories of the people who made and used the objects in our collection.
Stop by this informal session to meet the museum's electricity curator Hal Wallace and learn more about collecting electricity. Use your history detective skills to "guess the gadget"!
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Interwoven Knowledge: Indigenous Art and Scientific Research in the Peruvian Amazon
All Programs
Efforts to preserve cultural heritage, ancestral knowledge, and biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon are increasingly interconnected. Learn how Indigenous Shipibo-Konibo and contemporary artistic traditions and Smithsonian-supported research work in tandem during a panel discussion with a National Museum of Natural History senior scientist and Peruvian artists. The evening also includes the opportunity to view an exhibition of contemporary Peruvian art connected to the Amazon.
Event Location: Embassy of Peru 1700 Massachusetts Ave NW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/interwoven-knowledge?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Hamilton's New York: When History Meets Hip-Hop
All Programs
Step into that turbulent city during the 18th century with Tim Dolan of Broadway Up Close and explore the places, people, and events that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking work Hamilton: An American Musical. The virtual tour traces Alexander Hamilton’s life and legacy through the streets that shaped him, examining how New York City functioned as a crucible for revolution, finance, politics, and ideas in the 1700s. Along the way, Dolan links memorable moments from the long-running musical to their historical foundations and reveals how Revolutionary-era history was transformed into a modern cultural phenomenon.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hamiltons-new-york?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hamiltons-new-york?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Storytime Studio: Wonderful Water
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
Guest educators from the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) will help us cool off from the summer heat with a story about water. We’ll discover how artists with work on view at both the Hirshhorn and NMAA are inspired by water and take inspiration ourselves through movement and art activities.
After the program, head over to the NMAA’s exhibition Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings to continue appreciating water’s many wonders.
Featured book: Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book about Water by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryoji Arai, translated by David…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Earth Sermon—Beauty, Love and Peace.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Community Futures Week
One-Time Events
Calling all teens! The National Portrait Gallery will host a four-day camp during the Civic Season, which runs from June 22 to the Fourth of July. Teens will explore their role in shaping the future for themselves and their community through art, discussions and interactive activities. Participants can connect with peers and dive into thought-provoking art making to explore what lies ahead in their lives and careers. Participants will also meet with museum staff to learn about career paths in the museum. Free and open to teens entering 9th–12th grades; lunch will be provided.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-futures-week-tickets-1985367175667?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - U.S. Army String Quartet
One-Time Events
Chamber music is a core element of the U.S. Army Strings’ mission, providing a backdrop for official Army functions and public performances. Join us for a performance that will include works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Alice Hong, Caroline Shaw, Charles Ives, as well as a rendition of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, 3 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Related Exhibition: 3 East - The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
The London Underground
All Programs
Since the Victorian era, the London Underground has shaped daily life in the city. It also served as the first model for modern subway systems. From smoke-filled, steam-powered trains to today’s 11-line, 250-mile network, the Underground has been central to London’s growth. Writer Christian Wolmar traces this evolution through electrification, world wars, and 21st-century expansion and highlights key visionaries who helped make the Underground possible.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/london-underground?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/london-underground?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - U.S. Army String Quartet
One-Time Events
Chamber music is a core element of the U.S. Army Strings’ mission, providing a backdrop for official Army functions and public performances. Join us for a performance that will include works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Alice Hong, Caroline Shaw, Charles Ives, as well as a rendition of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, 3 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Related Exhibition: 3 East - The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Expert: Firefighters in the 1800s
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet curator Tim Winkle and learn about firefighters in the 1800s.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Portrait Gallery Reading Rhythms
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and Reading Rhythms for a reading party designed to make it easy for people to gather and read socially. We invite folks to bring any book they want while we facilitate silent reading periods, one-on-one breakouts, and group discussions about the art that everyone is engaging with. This adult program unites a community of readers to learn together and experience art with curated music.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Great Hall. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/portrait-gallery-reading-rhythms-tickets-1985367092418?aff=erelexpmlt. Categories: After Five.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Handi-hour
One-Time Events
Celebrate the summer growing season with a State Fairs-inspired agricultural craft at DC’s original crafting happy hour! Take inspiration from the crop art on view in State Fairs: Growing American Craft and then create your own crop artwork using seeds and beans that grow our food. While you are working, enjoy cider provided by ANXO and live, local music. Light snacks, crafting materials, two drinks, and after-hours access to both floors of the exhibition galleries are included in the ticket price.
Attendees must be 21+ to attend and present a valid ID with birthdate at the door. Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase beginning June 11.
Venue: Renwick Gallery. Event Location: Rubenstein Grand Salon. Cost: $25 | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/5f4ZMUx7/handi-hour-5a2bVR3MIEH/overview. Categories: After Five. Related Exhibition: State Fairs: Growing American Craft.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
The American Revolution, Part 1
All Programs
The American War of Independence freed the 13 British colonies in North America from Crown rule and set the stage for the United States’ bold experiment in self-government. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner traces the war from its roots in the crises of the 1770s through the opening campaigns of the conflict, culminating in the American victories at Trenton and Princeton and an examination of British strategy in a springtime series. This session focuses on the British strategy during the American Revolution.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-revolution-part1-1D0142D?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-revolution-part1-1D0142D?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
At the Vanguard: HBCU Trivia Night
One-Time Events
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 25th at 7:00pm for a special night of community, culture, and trivia! Inspired by the National Museum of African American History & Culture exhibit, At the Vanguard, we are highlighting HBCU culture, legacy, and impact through a trivia night hosted in partnership with Soul Brain Trivia! Bring a squad or come solo and show off your HBCU knowledge for a chance to win prizes! Make sure to check out the NMAAHC exhibit, At the Vanguard, for question clues... we'll see you there!
For Inquiries, please email NMAAHCEngage@si.edu.
Event Location: Penn Social. Cost: This event has sold out. Categories: After Five. Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Story Time: Delivering Democracy
One-Time Events
Join us, guest artist Heather Moulder, and the DC Public Library for a special Civic Season Story Time designed for learners of all ages to explore the power of the mail in shaping civic life. Children, caregivers, and community members will read, reflect, and discover together as we look closely at objects in the museum galleries and share stories about community participation.
Activities will be available at 10am in the Museum lobby. The facilitated program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby.
Participants will have the opportunity to write advocacy postcards, engage in hands-on play, and consider how communication through the mail has connected individuals to their government and to one another throughout history.
If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g. ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact NPMprograms@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: Museum Lobby. Cost: Free ; no registration required. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Due to inclement weather, Wonderplace will open at 12 noon on Friday, January 19, pending staff availability. We will update this entry if the operating status for Wonderplace changes. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis.At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Big Moments, Little Stories
One-Time Events
Discover the power of storytelling and community through our early learners storytime experience inspired by We Make History! Through engaging stories, interactive gallery moments, and hands-on activities, children and caregivers will explore how everyday people, neighborhoods, and changemakers shape history in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Together, young learners will build curiosity and creativity.
Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years
Time and Schedule: 10: 30 a.m.
Duration: About 1 hour.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-tickets-1990727334045?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Fra Angelico: Painting Heaven on Earth
All Programs
Fra Angelico, born Guido di Pietro, began as a quiet Dominican friar illuminating manuscripts before Medici patronage drew him into Renaissance Florence’s artistic energy. In the 1430s, the new monastery of San Marco became his canvas, where he transformed austere cells into luminous frescoes that blended the divine and the human. Art historian Laura Morelli examines his life, his masterworks at San Marco, and the unique convergence of faith, talent, and support that shaped his enduring devotional style. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fra-angelico?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fra-angelico?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
The Climate History of Earth
All Programs
Atmospheric scientist Edward Graham leads a 4.6-billion-year exploration of Earth’s climate, using geology to decode the planet’s earliest, alien environments. He traces how life gradually transformed the atmosphere, raising oxygen levels and shaping a blue sky. He also considers the important lessons from a study of past Earth climate to understand the escalating climate crisis of the Anthropocene.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/climate-history-of-earth?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/climate-history-of-earth?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Art Bites Gallery Talk
One-Time Events
Join SAAM’s research fellows for this lunchtime series of gallery talks, each focused on one compelling artwork. Discover the stories behind these objects and the insights they offer into the United States’ ever-evolving cultural landscape. Clara Royer, Smithsonian Institution predoctoral fellow, discusses Nam June Paik’s Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S. Alaska, Hawaii. .
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: In-person | Smithsonian American Art Museum. Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Meet in the G Street Lobby. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3Gbmf. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
In a Burgundian State of Mind
All Programs
Spend a fascinating Friday evening expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable adventures. He explores how the Burgundian viticultural model is being adopted outside of Burgundy in an immersive program that includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/burgundian-state-of-mind?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/burgundian-state-of-mind?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Culinary Arts.
Friday, June 26, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand
One-Time Events
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located East of the River in Ward 8.
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 18 - November 21, 2026.*
You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets.
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt.
*Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Open Studio: Red-dy for Summer
One time events
Beat the heat every Saturday in June at Open Studio! Each week, we’ll take inspiration from the heat of summer and look at artworks by artists such as Nicolas Party, Spencer Finch, Joan Miró and more.
Join us this Saturday as we draw inspiration from Nicolas Party and his bright-red sculpture Head (2018). We’ll use materials like paint, chalk pastels, and googly eyes to create vibrant portraits of our own!
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…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Open Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Art Project: Draw with Your Face with Janine Antoni.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Yoga Session: Golden Glow Yoga
One-Time Events
A sun-soaked celebration of summer featuring DC's own go-go music. Gold and yellow symbolize optimism and vitality as participants explore heart-opening poses. Includes 'Shine Your Light' meditation where each person identifies one gift they bring to their community. Perfect for embracing joy and radiance. Registration required, Spaces are limited so please arrive early to claim your space.
Attire: Please be sure to wear breathable clothing that allows for full range of movement and comfortable shoes. Participants are encouraged to embrace each workshop's color theme in their attire.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-session-golden-glow-yoga-tickets-1984641234357?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - David Cole and the Main Street Blues Band
One-Time Events
Join us for a musical program that traces the evolution of the blues from its rural Southern roots to its electric and urban transformation. Guided by guitarist and vocalist David B. Cole, the show will unfold as a living history lesson—told through sound, storytelling, and stylistic shifts.
Country blues will evoke the raw emotional landscapes of early blues traditions. Sparse rhythms, call-and-response phrasings, and heartfelt vocals echo the experiences of rural life. Between songs, artists will offer brief reflections on the origins of the blues, the role of oral tradition, and the music’s connection to everyday struggle and resilience.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Portrait Signs: A Tour in ASL
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Portrait Signs is a Deaf-led tour in American Sign Language that explores a variety of topics related to portraiture, history and biography, focusing on works from the museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collection.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-signs-a-tour-in-asl-tickets-713964475967?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Music from the Hearts of America - David Cole and the Main Street Blues Band
One-Time Events
Join us for a musical program that traces the evolution of the blues from its rural Southern roots to its electric and urban transformation. Guided by guitarist and vocalist David B. Cole, the show will unfold as a living history lesson—told through sound, storytelling, and stylistic shifts.
Country blues will evoke the raw emotional landscapes of early blues traditions. Sparse rhythms, call-and-response phrasings, and heartfelt vocals echo the experiences of rural life. Between songs, artists will offer brief reflections on the origins of the blues, the role of oral tradition, and the music’s connection to everyday struggle and resilience.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Rooted in History: Genealogy for Family Historians
One-Time Events
Curious about family history? Join genealogist Hollis Gentry Brown for expert tips on tracing your roots. Discover more about history keepers in our current exhibition, We Make History, as Gentry Brown also shares her research about Cupid Plummer, the Revolutionary War patriarch of the family whose multigenerational diary anchors the exhibit.
This program is in collaboration with the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooted-in-history-genealogy-for-family-historians-tickets-1984644444960?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops. Lectures & Discussions.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 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. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit invention.si.edu. Wonderplace
Ongoing Tours & Activities
This learning space designed especially for children ages six and under combines age appropriate activities with museum collections and touchable objects to provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity for the youngest historians.
Admission to Wonderplace is on a first come, first-served basis. At busy times, we may use FREE, timed tickets to minimize wait time if needed. Tickets are available for 30-minute visits on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required for the first session from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. To visit during a later half-hour session, visitors may pick up a ticket at Wonderplace in 1 West. The last entry using timed tickets is at 3:30 p.m.
Hours are subject to change.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wonderplace, 1 West. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Art Studio
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. NY | Hands On: Summer Solstice
One-Time Events
Celebrate the Sun! Join our museum educators to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Choose an Indigenous sun design to decorate and take home as a magnet memento.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Decision to Leave
Films
Watch the Trailer
This deliciously twisty thriller from master director Park Chan-wook (No Other Choice) garnered loads of awards, including the Best Director prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. A married detective (Park Hae-il) falls for an enigmatic femme fatale played with elegant panache by Tang Wei (Lust, Caution) in what The New York Times’ Manohla Dargis calls a “heady, baroque mystery infused with the kind of old-fashioned romantic fatalism that makes noir-darkened hearts flutter.” The encounter sets off a serpentine plot probing its characters’ dark impulses toward violence, treachery, and betrayal, all filmed in Park’s characteristically lush, ravishing style.
Director: Park Chan-wook. Country: Korea. Released: 2022. Length: 139 min. Format: DCP. Language: Korean and Mandarin with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Mubi.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://pcw.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. ASL-interpreted program.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Before Camp 2
All Programs
Parents must bring campers to the assigned Before-Camp room in the Ripley Center to sign in daily. At 9 a.m. campers will be brought up to Drop-off and then to their camps.
Event Location: Ripley Center. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/before-camp-2?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
Amazing Americans
All Programs
From Martin Luther King, Jr. to Neil Armstrong to paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, explore the stories of the people behind some of the great moments in American history. Campers explore the contributions of the Founding Fathers, Native Americans, civil-rights activists, and many others who helped to build our nation. They discover how people showed heroism through acts of nonviolent protest and through their powerful words. Campers create their own history books, draw their own heroes, and re-enact some memorable historic events.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/amazing-americans?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Art in Nature
All Programs
Spend a week immersed in art in nature, from nature, and about nature. Campers explore large-scale and temporary earthworks, epic landscape paintings across the Smithsonian’s collections, and nature-inspired forms to inspire their own creations. They use found materials to depict the environment, creating works that examine the intersection between art and nature. Field trips to the Natural History Museum and Smithsonian art museums, as well as explorations and experimentations in garden spaces, link the artist and ecologist in this creative camp.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-in-nature?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Astro Adventures
All Programs
Future astrophysicists, prepare! Campers spend the week exploring outer space discovering amazing things about our solar system. They visit the Udvar–Hazy Center and the Air and Space Museum to explore the moon and the stars, planets, and the galaxies that fill our universe. Campers create crafts, experience simulations, conduct experiments, and take part in other exciting activities with an eye on space. On Friday, they launch a Show–and–Share guaranteed to be out of this world!
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/astro-adventures?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Climate Custodians
All Programs
The future is in our hands. Campers dig deep into climate change and climate solutions, informed by science presented through exhibits and activities at the Natural History Museum and the Enid A. Haupt Garden. They consider ways to reduce consumption, conserve energy, reduce pollution, and inspire civic action as they conduct labs, design campaigns, and develop sustainable solutions for daily challenges.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/climate-custodians?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Gross Me Out
All Programs
Know someone intrigued by the nasty, icky, and disgusting parts of nature? They can enjoy a week uncovering the science behind snot, the bacteria that live in our belly buttons, and gross creatures inside and outside our bodies. Bones and bodies at the Natural History Museum, insect–eating and poisonous plants at the U.S. Botanic Garden spark campers’ curiosity and inspire their experiments and creations. They share their own "Grossology" exhibit at the end of the week.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/gross-me-out?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Micro Mania!
All Programs
What if ladybugs and butterflies were the size of cats and dogs? What if you could hold the Saturn V launch vehicle in your hand? In this size-shifting, space-bending journey through the Smithsonian collection, campers learn about microscopic wonders and macroscopic treasures. Hands-on experiments and art projects get them noticing details big and small. Field trips to the Natural History and Air and Space museums, as well as the National Gallery of Art prove that nothing is too big (or small) to start an amazing adventure at the Smithsonian.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/micro-mania-?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
President for a Week
All Programs
Campers follow in the footsteps of the presidents who guided our country throughout its history. They learn about democracy, the electoral process, and our government by devising team–led political campaigns and running for office. They use resources and inspirations found in the American History Museum, Portrait Gallery, and local historic sites to develop their political platforms, create campaign materials, and enhance their public–speaking skills as they write and deliver speeches designed to land them in the White House.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/president-for-week?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Smithsonian-opoly
All Programs
The Board Game Convention is coming, and we need more games! The Smithsonian collection is bursting with different objects and ideas just itching to become the next big board game. Campers explore different Smithsonian museums, looking for inspiration in various exhibits around the National Mall. Throughout the week, campers are challenged to create the most exciting and innovative games. Families then get to test out their campers’ creations at their own Board Game Convention at Friday’s show-and-share.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smithsonian-opoly?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Soldiers & Dioramas: AWI: Bunker Hill 1775 and Valcour Island 1776
All Programs
A significant victory for the colonial forces, the battles of Bunker Hill and Valcour Island are two pivotal moments in the history of the American Revolutionary War. These engagements are remembered for their strategic importance and contributions of respective forces, despite the challenges faced by colonial Americans. Campers explore the conflict through discussions and historical simulations using information from maps, timelines, and museum visits. They create dioramas and fight battles with miniature soldiers, as well as engage in group–strategy games using large geographical maps. Fictional and nonfiction accounts, graphic novels, reference books, and related films and documentaries give campers a grounding in the period’s history.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/soldiers-amp-dioramas-awi-bunker-hill-1775-and-valcour-island-1776?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Spooky Smithsonian
All Programs
Who doesn’t love monsters and things that go bump in the night? Campers explore all things spooky at the Smithsonian. Is the Smithsonian Castle haunted? Can you spot real monsters at the National Zoo? Can a field trip help us learn the secrets of mad scientists? Campers visit the museums, explore entomology, chemistry, electricity, and learn the history of some real "spooky science." They throw a Friday "Mad Monster Party" to celebrate what they’ve learned.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/spooky-smithsonian?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Star-Spangled Summer
All Programs
The week of the Fourth of July is the perfect time for campers to explore the history of our nation’s beginning. They view the original Star–Spangled Banner and visit exhibits in the American History Museum, as well as some of the National Mall’s famous monuments. They sing the National Anthem and other traditional patriotic songs, and make their own flags, noisemakers, pinwheels, and fireworks—inspired art for an all–American show–and–share at the end of the week.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/star-spangled-summer?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Story Builders
All Programs
Stories allow cultures and traditions to be present in our modern day. They allow those who are unheard to be heard. Stories allow our imaginations to soar. They are important to be heard and to be told. Campers explore the world of storytelling around the globe. They learn of its history, variety of methods, components of a good story and the importance of preservation. Through museum visits, games and discourse, inspired campers then take their turn to be the story creators and tellers.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/story-builders?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
The Age of Dinosaurs
All Programs
This fascinating interactive camp combines biology, paleontology, botany, and art. Campers visit the Natural History Museum and the U.S. Botanic Garden to learn about fossil formation, prehistoric plants, and the varieties of dinosaurs that roamed the earth millions of years ago. The time–traveling explorers craft their own dino eggs, fossils, and terrain to create their Jurassic diorama.
Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/age-of-dinosaurs?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Developing Your Creative Practice
All Programs
Drop the burden of a finished product and focus on developing your ideas. Begin to deal with procrastination, creative blocks, flow, problem solving, and finishing with the support of a stress-free environment. Build confidence alongside other creatives on the same journey.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/developing-your-creative-practice?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/developing-your-creative-practice?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Kids
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind
All Programs
Artists throughout the world have developed practices to center themselves and prepare for making art. During this tranquil midday break, students explore techniques such as mark making with lines, swirls, and puddles and using paper to experiment with folding and tearing.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artful-mind-tranquil-mind-1E0AMY?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artful-mind-tranquil-mind-1E0AMY?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Knitting Lace
All Programs
Learn delicate stitch patterns and new techniques to knit lace. Discover easier methods to achieve the unique texture of lace and get ideas for new projects.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/knitting-lace?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/knitting-lace?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
After Camp 2
All Programs
Parents must sign out their campers from the After-Camp room daily in the Ripley Center. Snack provided.
Event Location: Ripley Center. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/after-camp-2?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM.
Introduction to Watercolor
All Programs
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/programs/introduction-to-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
A Geologic Tour of Iceland
All Programs
Explore the spectacular geology and scenery of Iceland in a virtual field trip led by Kirt Kempter. The recent eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula has signaled a new chapter in volcanic activity on the island, and Kempter explores its future implications. He also discusses famous volcanoes; the boundary between North American and Eurasian plates; unusual volcanoes beneath vast glaciers; and historic eruptions that impacted global climate and human populations.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/geologic-tour-of-iceland?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/geologic-tour-of-iceland?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
The Magic of Light and Shadow in Watercolor
All Programs
Say goodbye to flat and boring painting as you learn to create patterns of light and dark in watercolor through demonstrations and hands-on exercises.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/magic-of-light-and-shadow-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/magic-of-light-and-shadow-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 30, 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. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
Play Date at NMNH: Mineral Rainbow
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This Tuesday we will be exploring color with minerals! Come play, make art, and make up-close observations of colorful mineral specimens.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5), their caregivers, and families
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu. Image: Tectosilicate Mineral Amethyst
Image copyright: Smithsonian.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Great Hall Story Time
One-Time Events
Join us in the Portrait Gallery’s historic Great Hall for an interactive story time that gets us up close and personal with art! Together we will look closely at portraits and read stories as we learn more about the people who have shaped history.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Great Hall. Cost: Free. No registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-hall-story-time-tickets-1984332181973?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
American Latino Museum
Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History.
This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition.
During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1984186244470?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM.
For more info visit latino.si.edu. Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Expert: History of Drag
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Stop by this informal session to meet curator Katherine Ott and learn about the history of drag. Drag is a performance art known for its exuberant performance of gender, and it has a long history—from at least as far back as Ancient Greece, continuing through Elizabethan theater, vaudeville, and World War II, through to the present. While drag is largely associated with the LGBTQ+ community today, it includes practitioners of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet Mary Pickersgill, seamstress of the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to America’s national anthem and later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. What was it like to live in a nation defending its sovereignty? Learn about the War of 1812, considered America’s Second War of Independence, and about ways that widows like Mary expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Flag Hall, 2 Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: The Star-Spangled Banner. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Textures and Techniques in Watercolor
All Programs
Take your paintings to the next level with simple secrets that every watercolor artist should know. Techniques demonstrated in the class are particularly useful for painting captivating landscapes.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/textures-and-techniques-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/textures-and-techniques-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Beginning Tapestry Weaving
All Programs
Dip your toe into the world of weaving and create a miniature woven tapestry on a small frame loom after you learn techniques to manipulate the yarn to make stripes and shapes and mix colors.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginning-tapestry-weaving-1E0ANA?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginning-tapestry-weaving-1E0ANA?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Continued Watercolor
All Programs
If you have some watercolor experience, go beyond the basics of paint application and learn how to construct strong, vibrant, personality-filled painting while still receiving guidance on foundational components.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/continued-watercolor-1E0ALE?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/continued-watercolor-1E0ALE?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
The Painterly Gel Print
All Programs
Learn simple techniques for transferring images to a gel plate for printing, layering, masking, and brushwork.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/painterly-gel-print?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/painterly-gel-print?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Declaration: The Untold Stories Behind America’s Founding Document
All Programs
Robert Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, reveals the lesser-known stories, surprising twists, and forgotten voices behind the most iconic document in U.S. history. Drawing from a wealth of primary sources—including letters, diaries, newspapers, and diplomatic communiqués—he reconstructs the debates, drafts, and drama that surrounded the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Focusing on the influence of women, enslaved individuals, and Indigenous peoples, Watson brings to light the varied cast of often-forgotten characters and perspectives that shaped the American experiment in his book, Declaration: The Story of American Independence.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/declaration?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/declaration?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Storytime Studio: Fabulous Fishes
One time events
ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO
Storytime Studio is a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers. During each hourlong session, starting at 10 and 11 AM every Wednesday and Thursday, visitors are welcomed into our studio to enjoy a special Storytime adventure.
Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Entry is first-come, first-served. THIS WEEK
This summer, we’re getting inspired by Hirshhorn classics, starting with Alexander Calder’s mobile Fish (1944). We’ll be joined by staff from the National Zoo to learn all about ocean animals. Then we’ll make our own suspended sculptures to take home.
Featured book: Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience.
There are two Storytime sessions each program day, with entry times at 10 and 11 AM. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour.
No pre-registration is required.
Entry to Storytime Studio is first-come,…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School in the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Storytime Studio, About Hirshhorn Kids, Visiting with Kids, Art Project: Balance Build.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! Virtual Reality Experience
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Step back to 1776 in stunning virtual reality! Experience Gunboat Philadelphia: Save the Revolution! where you'll discover how thousands of Patriots worked together to thwart a British invasion.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 3 East. Cost: $10 per person. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Gunboat Philadelphia. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sensory Programs.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Spark!Lab
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Spark!Lab, First Floor, West Wing. Cost: Free; first come, first served. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Places of Invention, Inventive Minds, Landmark Object: Ralph Baer's Workshop, Inventing in America.
Wednesday, July 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. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour
Smithsonian Gardens
Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue, SW. No reservation is required.
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The garden tour begins just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign. Cost: Free
Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Interactive Programs
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Docents offer interactive programming throughout the museum, in the form of Highlights tours of the museum, gallery spotlight talks, and hands-on cart programs.
Tours of the museum’s highlights generally take place daily at 10:15 AM and 1 PM. Additional tours may be offered on the hour between 11 AM and 3 PM as docents are available. Please check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Gallery spotlight talks take place throughout the day. Docents offer a 15-minute overview of an exhibition or briefly discuss a favorite museum object. Look for the "Docent on Duty" signs posted outside the exhibition entrances.
Docents stationed at carts help visitors get their hands on history and learn about the museum's collections. Carts are located throughout the museum, and you can check either Welcome Desk for today’s schedule.
Year-Round:
Available most days between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Notes:
Programs are subject to docent availability; last-minute cancellations may occur.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Multiple floors. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM.
SHOUT
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Join our ensemble of performers as they sing, dance, and teach through storytelling. Learn about the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s. They combined various religious practices of Europe and Africa, creating a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Connect their syncopated musical rhythms from the past to the present and learn how music can be a form of joyful resistance in times of oppression.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Meet the Wheelwoman
Ongoing Tours & Activities
Meet a cyclist pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure, or even woman suffrage.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
ONLINE | Animation Celebration!
One-Time Events
Enjoy animated short films by Indigenous filmmakers, featuring colorful folktales, humorous encounters, and lighthearted lessons.
All films will be available to stream for free on our site beginning Wednesday, July 1, at 5 PM ET through Friday, July 31, at 5 PM ET.
See our calendar for opportunities to watch the films in-person at our New York City and Washington, DC locations.
Image credit: "POW!" (film still), courtesy of Joey Clift (Cowlitz).
Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://americanindian.si.edu/animation-celebration-2026/. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Films. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Audio description. Captioning.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 5:00 PM – Friday, July 31, 2026, 5:00 PM.
Principles of Abstraction
All Programs
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/programs/principles-of-abstraction?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/principles-of-abstraction?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Macro Photography
All Programs
Take a much closer look at your photographic subjects through the art of macro photography. Get an introduction to the technique’s aesthetics and design, as well as technical tips on lenses, close-up focusing distance, depth of field, tripod use, lighting, and other key elements.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/macro-photography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/macro-photography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Portrait Drawing
All Programs
Capturing the likeness of an individual is a time-honored, essential tradition in art. In this class, students are introduced to the basic steps of how to create a convincing portrait using charcoal or graphite.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/portrait-drawing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/portrait-drawing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.