Visiting with Kids

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American History Museum

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

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activity lab for kids

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.

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children pretend grocery shopping

Wegmans Wonderplace

This 1,700-square-foot interactive space in the Museum of American History provides the youngest historians with age-appropriate activities and experiences.

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Ride Simulators at American History

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

girl drawing

ImaginAsia

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

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boy looking at video art

American Art Family Programs

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

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child on carousel giraffe

National Zoo

Highlights include Tiger Tracks, Amazonia Science Gallery, Reptile Discovery Center, Kids' Farm, and the Conservation Carousel.

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Natural History Museum

Highlights include the Insect Zoo, Q?rius jr. Discovery Room, Live Butterflies.

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kids look at monitor

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.

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carousel

Carousel

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

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Discovery Theater

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

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fish on screen

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.

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kids in planetarium

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.

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rocket simulator

Simulators at Air and Space and Hazy Center

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

kids in a tipi

imagiNATIONS Activity Center

The center at the American Indian Museum in Washington, D.C., provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences.

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kids using interactive table

imagiNATIONS Activity Center, New York

In this family-friendly, interactive space, visitors of all ages explore Native scientific discoveries and inventions so ingenious many continue to affect the modern world. This exploration is made even more fun by solving puzzles, performing experiments, and playing state-of-the-art computer simulations.

Learn more aboutimagiNATIONS Activity Center, New York
kids with suitcases

Smithsonian Sleepovers

Imagine rolling out your sleeping bag at the home of the Star-Spangled Banner or beneath a 50-foot whale! A night of adventure awaits you and your family.

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