Due to the Metrorail shutdown March 16, our D.C. museums will open at noon, except the Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Udvar-Hazy Center, and National Zoo which will open on time. The Castle will open at 10:30 a.m.

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Visitor Information
FREE admission:
  • Smithsonian museums & the National Zoo (DC, VA)
  • American Indian Museum Heye Center (NYC)
  • Note: Tickets are not used for general admission.
Entry fee:
Information for
PDF Download Visitor Survival Guide Visitor Survival Guide (PDF)Download Adobe Reader for PDF files at get.adobe.com/reader.
Smithsonian Mobile app

Visiting with Kids

Download the Smithsonian Mobile app and save your favorite exhibitions, activities, and highlights to your own personal must-see list.

Plan ahead with Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian: The Official Kids Guide to the Smithsonian Institution—an interactive guidebook just for kids.

Kids at the Natural History Museum's Insect Zoo

Highlighted Activities for Kids

Child at interactive cart
American History Museum »

Get your hands on history with interactive carts, step right into history with our Historic Theater, and more!


view of ride Simulators at American History
Ride Simulators at American History

Experience the excitement of state-of-the-art motion simulation and celebrate America's love for adventure!
(fee)


Kids in the Spark!Lab
Spark!Lab at American History »

Hands-on space for children between the ages of 6 and 12 to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment, and invent.


Child visiting exhibition
ImaginAsia »

Tour a current exhibition at the Sackler Gallery of Art, followed by an art activity.


Art image
American Art Family Programs »

Bring your young, budding artists and participate in fun hands-on activities that will be sure to spark their creativity!


family program
Smithsonian Family Programs »

The Smithsonian is a great place to be a kid! With its wealth of child-friendly offerings and treasures, the Smithsonian is the ideal destination for Washington-area families.


Q?rius Discovery Room
Q?rius »

Created for teens and tweens, Q?rius is a new way for students to make sense of the connections between nature, the planet, the universe, and their lives.

Carousel on the National Mall
Carousel

Near the Arts and Industries Building (year-round, weather permitting; nominal fee).


Discovery Theater performance
Discovery Theater »

The best in live performing arts, this venue provides a variety of educational and cultural programs for both kids and adults.


Image from IMAX film at NASM
IMAX® Theaters  »

IMAX is the ultimate film experience. Specially designed screens that are several stories high produce some of the most stunning visual images recorded.


Zeiss Model VIa planetarium instrument
Planetarium »

For the first time, you'll feel the sensation of zooming through the cosmos, enveloped in color saturated moving images and spine-tingling sound.


view of ride Simulators at the Air and Space Museum
Flight and Ride Simulators at the Air and Space Museum & Hazy Center

Climb aboard an interactive flight simulator or take an exciting virtual trip on board one of our passenger ride simulators. (fee)


imagiNATIONS
imagiNATIONS »

The imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the American Indian Museum provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences.


Kids in their sleepover t-shirts
Smithsonian Sleepovers »

Imagine rolling out your sleeping bag at the home of the Star-Spangled Banner or beneath a 50-foot whale!

Smithsonian Summer Camps
Smithsonian Summer Camps »

More than 80 camps from aviation to zoology make the Smithsonian the coolest summer destination for fun and hands-on learning.