Everyday Activities at the Museum

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There is something for families to do everyday at the National Building Museum. The Building Zone is open daily, Family Tool Kits and the Amazing Arches activity are available most days, and visitors can participate in Discovery Carts on weekends.

*Due to the size of some of our Great Hall events, which support the Museum's exhibitions and programs, occasionally the Tool Kits and Arch will not be offered. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and encourage visitors to call the Museum at 202.272.2448 to check for availability in advance of their visit.

Family Tool Kits*

On your next visit to the Museum, "check out" one of the Museum's new Family Tool Kits. Designed for families with children of many ages, each family or group will get their own tool kit loaded with lots of cool things to help explore the architecture of the Museum's historic home by seeing, moving, touching, and doing!

Tool Kit 1: Patterns: Here, There, and Everywhere!

Includes: creating architectural patterns using stamps and rubbings, making musical patterns, looking for patterns in the Museum, building patterns with mini bricks, and much much more! (For children ages 3-7 and adult companions)

Tool Kit 2: Eye Spy: What Can You Find with Your Little Eye?

Includes: binoculars and flashlights, eye spy games, drawing activities, custom jigsaw puzzles of details in the Museum's historic home and much, much more! (For children ages 7-10 and adult companions)

Tool Kit 3: Constructor Detector

Includes: measuring tapes, a measuring wheel, a level, magnetic compass, hammer and nails, and much more to figure out challenges and create an art piece to take home. (For children ages 8-11 and adult companions)

Free for members. $5 check-out fee per tool kit, non-members, cash or check. Tool Kits are for rental and on-site usage until 4 PM daily. Recommended for children ages 3-11 with adult companions. Available on-going daily.

Build a seven-foot arch during the Amazing Arches activity, available every day in the Great Hall.

Photo by Museum staff

Amazing Arches: Build a Life-Sized Arch in the Great Hall*

Arches are an iconic architectural feature in the Museum's Great Hall and around the world. But have you ever wondered just how they work? Discover the arch's secrets for yourself by constructing a 7-foot-tall, soft-block arch in the Museum's Great Hall.
Fun for all ages!

Free. On-going daily. Appropriate for all ages.

Activity Booklets and Exhibition Guides

Try the Treasure Hunt Activity Booklet, for families with children ages six and older, which introduces architecture concepts and features in the Museum and around Washington, DC. Set off around the Museum, identifying key architectural elements, sketching, and analyzing the building. Complimentary copies at the Information Desk. Exhibition Family Guides help engage younger audiences in exhibitions like Washington: Symbol and City. Look for printed copies inside or just outside exhibitions.

The Building Zone

Ongoing
first floor galleries

Build with giant Legos in the Building Zone.

This exhibition in the Building Learners Gallery is designed especially for our youngest visitors, ages two to six, and their adult companions. Building Zone introduces children to the building arts through engaging activities. Build with big, soft Legos™ and building blocks; curl up with an architecture picture book in the book nook; vroomm with 'dozers and other construction play trucks; pretend to be a craftsperson complete with hard hats, tool belts, and much more!

Discovery Carts

Bridging the Gap
Saturdays, 10:30 - 11:00 am
During this interactive demonstration, participants learn about five basic bridge types before solving a transportation problem by choosing a type of bridge to build.
Free. Registration not required. Most appropriate for ages 5 and up.

Arches and Trusses: The Tension Builds
Sundays, 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Discover how building forces, materials, and structures affect strength and longevity. Participants test different building materials and work together to build a brick arch.
Free. Registration not required. Most appropriate for ages 5 and up.

Register to receive email updates about upcoming family programs at the National Building Museum.

Questions? Contact the Family Programs Coordinator at 202.272.2448 or email family@nbm.org.