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Visitor Information
Admission
Free admission:- Smithsonian museums & the National Zoo (DC, VA)
- American Indian Museum Heye Center (NYC)
- Cooper-Hewitt Museum (NYC)
Information for
For Kids & Families
Kids Tips (PDF)
Visiting with Kids
The attention span of young children can be very short. They may find a security officer, a long flight of stairs, or a decorative foundation more interesting than the exhibitions you had in mind. Visit the exhibitions or galleries that the youngest children want to see first. If you are traveling with preschoolers, plan to spend no more than an hour in any one museum.
Another way to keep children interested is to talk about the exhibition being visited. Encourage their imagination. Ask them to pretend to be that object, animal, or person. Or pick a theme—like animals—and have the children find animals in the museum.
10 Tips for visiting with children (PDF) »
Introducing museums to your children »
Exhibitions for Kids »
Activities and Events for Kids »
Highlighted Activities for Kids
ImaginAsia »
Tour a current exhibition at the Sackler Gallery of Art, followed by a related art activity
Art a la Cart »
The Smithsonian American Art Museum offers interactive carts for kids. Explore subjects such as sculpture and folk art through hands-on activities.
National Zoo »
Highlights include Tiger Tracks, Amazonia Science Gallery, Reptile Discovery Center, Kids' Farm, and How Do You Zoo?
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.
Natural History Museum »
Highlights include the Triceratops, Insect Zoo, Discovery Room, Live Butterflies.
Spark!Lab »
The hands-on space for families and others visiting the National Museum of American History shows the real story behind an inventor’s work. (Closing for renovation Oct. 5, 2011.)
Carousel
Near the Arts and Industries Building (year-round, weather permitting; nominal fee)
Discovery Theater »
The best in live performing arts, this venue provides a variety of educational and cultural programs for both kids and adults.
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.
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.
Smithsonian Sumer Camps »
More than 80 camps from aviation to zoology make the Smithsonian the coolest summer destination for fun and hands-on learning.
Smithsonian Sleepovers »
A night of adventure awaits you as you enter the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
