Visiting with Kids

This is a small sample of activities that you and your family can enjoy together. We have something for young people of all ages from tots to teens!

A family looks at examples of astronauts gloves.

Air and Space Museum Discovery Stations

Discovery Stations at the Washington, D.C., and Virginia locations encourage informal learning through active looking, discussion, and hands-on activities related to aviation, space exploration, astronomy, and planetary geology.

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Air and Space Museum Planetarium

Feel the sensation of zooming through the cosmos, enveloped in color saturated moving images and spine-tingling sound at the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall.

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Air and Space Museum Ride Simulators

Climb aboard an interactive flight simulator or take an exciting virtual trip on board one of our passenger ride simulators at the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center. (fee)

American Art Museum Family Activities

Bring your young, budding artists and participate in fun hands-on activities at the Smithsonian American Art Museum that will be sure to spark their creativity! Visit the Luce Center to check out secret eye miniatures, audio tours, cool jewelry, and scavenger hunts.

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American History Museum Spark!Lab

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

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American History Museum Wegmans Wonderplace

This 1,700-square-foot interactive space in the National Museum of American History provides the youngest historians ages 0 to 6 with age-appropriate activities and experiences.

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American Indian Museum imagiNATIONS Activity Center, DC

The family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides young visitors a lively space with a wide variety of learning experiences. The cultural and scientific knowledge of Indigenous peoples reflects a tradition driven by innovation that is unique and universal. Visitors may explore some of these ingenious adaptations through a variety of play-based interactives. Recommended for ages 10 and younger.

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American Indian Museum imagiNATIONS Activity Center, NY

The interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors a lively space to explore scientific principles behind Native innovations and technologies that are so ingenious, many remain a part of our daily lives. Recommended for ages 10 and older.

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Asian Art Museum Family Programs

Discover resources designed with kids in mind that you can use in the galleries for a family outing.

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Hirshhorn Guide for Visiting with Kids

There’s something for kids of every age: artworks that spark conversations and inspire new ways of thinking. The Museum’s unique shape is perfect to explore as a family—no art history required.

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Natural History Museum

Highlights include the Insect Zoo and live Butterfly Pavilion.

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Portrait Gallery Family Activities

Designed to “inform, involve, and inspire,” Portrait Gallery programs invite the discovery of art and history through a variety of hands-on activities. Kids ages eighteen months to eight can enjoy the Explore! Space with a variety of activities and experiences.

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Postal Museum

Meet Owney the Dog, the mascot of the Railway Post Office. He is just one of the 10 fun things to do with kids at the museum.

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Q?rius at the Natural History Museum

Q?rius (pronounced "curious") is an interactive and experimental learning space. Visitors can use microscopes, handle some of the 6,000 collection objects, solve science puzzles, do touchscreen activities, and even meet a scientist.

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Smithsonian Associates' 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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Smithsonian's National Zoo

For a break, visit the Me and the Bee Playground, located next to Kids' Farm, where children of all ages can “shrink” to bee-size! Take a ride on the wild side! Located across from the Zoo’s Lemur Island, the Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel features dozens of custom-carved and hand-painted animals. Stomp in the shallow waters of American Trail's Tide Pool Squirt Zone, weather permitting.

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