National Children's Museum
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC, Washington DC, USA, 20004
Reopened in 2019 after roughly a decade of renovations, the National Children’s Museum is a must-visit destination for families. The 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter) space is focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and includes an array of interactive, hands-on exhibitions.
The basics
Visitors with infants and toddlers can head to the Little Dreamers and Little Movers spaces, which are geared toward the youngest children. Older kids can venture to the Dream Machine (a three-story climber and slide, and the museum’s centerpiece), play in the Innovation Sandbox (an immersive digital experience), take part in Data Science Alley, and more.
To simplify your trip, book tickets online to guarantee your admission.
Things to know before you go
The National Children’s Museum is designed for kids 12 and under, and their families.
In addition to its permanent installations, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, family workshops, and pop-up experiences.
All of the museum is accessible to wheelchair users, and service animals are also welcome inside.
The museum’s dedicated Mothers Room caters to nursing parents, and stroller parking is available on-site.
For a quick bite, there's the Bluestone Lane café, or you can head to the food court in the adjacent Ronald Reagan Building; if you plan to come back after going to the food court, be sure to get a stamp before exiting the museum.
How to get there
The National Children’s Museum is located on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just steps from the Federal Triangle Metro station (served by the Blue, Orange, and Silver Metro Lines), and close to Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Station (served by the Yellow and Green Lines). The museum can also be reached by bike, taxi, or bus.
When to get there
The National Children’s Museum is open every day except Tuesday, and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Weekday afternoons are the quietest time to visit.
Other family-friendly DC highlights
Visiting the nation’s capital with the kids in tow? Venture beyond the National Children’s Museum and discover Washington DC’s other family-friendly offerings. Nearby attractions—including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Discovery Theater—are all popular among younger visitors, and all just minutes away on foot.
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