Summer is filled with STEAM at National Children’s Museum – DC’s favorite place to play! Extended hours and seasonal offerings provide families with cool respite and even cooler learning opportunities.

Enjoy the museum even more! The National Children’s Museum has expanded its Hours of Play with two bonus hours four days a week. From June 19-August 31, 2025, the museum will be open from 9 am-6 pm, giving you two extra hours of play each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Purchase advanced tickets online.

• Thursday-Sunday: 9 am-6 pm
• Monday/Wednesday: 9:30 am-4:30 pm
• Holiday Hours: The museum will be open from 9 am-6 pm on Labor Day, September 1, 2025

Get excited! Check out the museum’s seasonal experiences (below):

Summer Tinkering Programs
Join the Museum for hands-on tinkering time. This summer, the Museum’s Tinkering Corner will feature two different activities, each with an ocean twist to celebrate the Museum’s visiting exhibit, Wild Kratts®: Ocean Adventure!:

• Jun 4-Jul 15, 2025: Animation
With props, image-capturing technology, and a bit of imagination, little directors can explore different animation techniques as they find new ways to build scenes and tell their stories.

• Jul 16-Aug 31, 2025: Shadow Stories
Young learners play, observe, and make connections between light and shadows as they create stories, scenes, and engage with a varying palette of recycled materials and a source of light.

STEAM Storytime & Baby Jam
These beloved early learner programs will be rockin’ all summer long with seasonal themes that explore our oceans, the weather, and more! Baby Jam is held every Monday at 2:30 pm, and STEAM Storytime is held every Wednesday at 2:30 pm. Both programs are included in the cost of admission.

Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure! Visiting Exhibit
70% of the Earth is oceans, but 100% of the National Children’s Museum’s Visiting Exhibit Hall will be Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure! through September 7, 2025. This exhibit immerses young explorers in whole-body explorations of ocean habitats and the fascinating creatures within them. Using Wild Kratts technology and the powers of science and teamwork, guests can join the PBS Kids television show’s Wild Kratts team to solve problems, help animals, and foil the villains’ nefarious plans.

Purchase tickets online; link below.