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When the crowds leave and the doors close, some of the world’s most popular museums become your child’s nighttime playground!
From presidential dreams to prehistoric scenes, Smithsonian Sleepovers transform learning into an all-night adventure. Designed for kids 8-14 and their adult chaperones, each overnight turns the galleries into a giant game board.
Two museums, two very different experiences:
American History Museum
Celebrate the country’s 250th birthday with an all-American road trip through the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History!
2026 sleepover dates:
- May 15, 2026
- June 6, 2026
- July 10, 2026
- July 24, 2026 ∙ Girl Scouts Only
- Aug 5, 2026 ∙ Late Night, No Overnight
Families unfold a map, start the engine, and follow the road through the museum’s galleries. Along the way, step into the exhibit Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, play I-Spy and the license plate game, and stop to test your knowledge. And yes, kids can even run for president — all part of a memorable overnight adventure! Learn more and register.
Natural History Museum
Dive into Earth’s wonders and uncover the stories of the natural world at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History!
2026 sleepover dates:
- July 18, 2026
- July 31, 2026
- Aug 14, 2026
Wander through Fossil Hall as towering dinosaurs cast giant shadows, then explore Earth’s past and dive into the ocean’s aquatic wonders. Along the way, kids visit pollinators, tiptoe past mysterious mammals, and get hands-on with interactive games, challenges, and crafts. Then it’s time to learn how to eat like a T. rex in the Game of Survival! Learn more and register.
Disclaimer: Event details are curated from public sources and subject to change. Verify all information via the provided links before attending.
