Taking the Kids: Visiting the Smithsonian museums
The next time you visit Washington, D.C., say a big thank you to James Smithson.
Who? The British scientist never even visited the United States, but when he died in 1829, he left a huge pot of gold to establish a museum here to increase knowledge. It took Congress 15 years to accept the gift.
Today, of course the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, including 19 museums and the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute where even though the pandas have gone home to China, there are some 2,200 animals to see.
One of the best parts: All the museums are free, though you may need timed- entry passes. Plan your visit at the Virtual Visitor Center. (Check the Washington, D.C., official tourist site for 100+ free activities while visiting.)
The Smithsonian museums include the National Museum of African American History and Culture (fondly known as the Blacksonian), the National Air and Space Museum (the world’s premier collection of air and space artifacts), the National Museum of American History (the original Star Spangled Banner and the Muppets!) and the National Museum of Natural History (mummies and the Orkin Insect Zoo).
Let’s not forget the National Portrait Gallery where you can see the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House, including the Obama portraits and portrait discovery kits for kids.
The National Postal Museum boasts three vintage mail planes, a stagecoach, a replica of a railway car and the world’s largest stamp gallery where kids can create a virtual stamp collection and design their own stamps.
Families love the outdoor sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn Museum, which features modern and contemporary art. Check out the guide for visiting with kids and the Hirshhorn Kids Programs.
Every museum has terrific in-person and online programs for kids, including Discovery Stations at the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, Spark! Lab with hands-on activities that connect to the museum’s collections, and the Wegmans Wonderplace for the youngest visitors.
There are also a lot of online activities. Download the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Joyful ABC activity booklets for young children. Make your own art-making robot with ArtBots! Put together digital jigsaw puzzles or download Inspiration Nation, a 40- page activity guide that includes experiments and activities. Make a summer road trip guide.
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