From our friends at the National Children's Museum...
National Children’s Museum to Reopen in March of 2019 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
The only nationally-recognized children’s museum heads into its best phase yet
The National Children’s Museum (NCM) will reopen at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in March of 2019. The museum was conceived in 1974 and has operated in several locations over the years. Its new space at the Reagan Building, just steps from the White House, provides more than 33,000 square feet for new interactive exhibits which will place an emphasis on teaching science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), reinforcing and expanding national education goals for children of all ages.
"Over the last several months, our goal has been to secure a new home for the National Children's Museum that would be accessible to locals and tourists alike,” said Crystal Bowyer, National Children’s Museum president and CEO. “Building a museum from scratch allows us to be very intentional, creating an interactive space the whole family can enjoy. Visitors deserve a special experience, and we look forward to opening our doors to the world very soon.”
NCM will be a hands-on space that sparks imagination, cultivates a safe and social community and reinforces spending time with families, friends, educators and other visitors. Each exhibit was created with the help of top education researchers to provide experiences that enhance lessons learned in classrooms across the country. In an effort to emphasize social communities and group experiences, the museum will have a separate hands-on studio for school classes and crowd-sourced art projects, all only steps away from the National Mall. Visitors will enter the museum through a separate entrance off the Woodrow Wilson Plaza and NCM will provide its own security.
“For years, we have been working tirelessly to find the best location for the NCM in our nation’s capital. We’re so excited to announce the opening of the greatest chapter for the museum, and we look forward to bringing millions of children and families to our exhibits,” said S. Ross Hechinger, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Children’s Museum.
“We’re thrilled to have the National Children’s Museum join the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center,” said John P. Drew, president and CEO of Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA), which manages the property. “The museum will be a great addition for us and the local community, offering a place for young people to learn and explore the world around them. We look forward to helping create an enriching experience for all museum visitors.”
School field trips will be welcomed in the group entrance of the Reagan Building, and daily programs will be offered to all guests. A sensory guide is being developed to ensure that every visitor enjoys the learning experiences the museum has to offer. A small café with an espresso bar and a gift shop with educational offerings will also be available.
Hours:
7 days a week, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tickets:
$10.95 for children 12 months and over and adults
Free admission for children 12 months or younger
Memberships available (members will receive free admission)
Transportation:
The National Children’s Museum will be located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW at the Ronald Reagan Building. It is Metro-accessible at the Federal Triangle stop on the Orange/Silver/Blue lines. Parking is also available onsite in the Reagan Building parking garage.
History of the National Children’s Museum:
Founded as the Capital Children’s Museum in 1974, the museum served kids and families for thirty years in Northeast Washington, DC. Renamed in 2003 with US Congressional designation, the National Children’s Museum operated as a museum without walls for several years; serving the region through traveling exhibitions, partnerships with other nonprofits, as well as community and school outreach programs. For a few years, a small museum space was opened to the public at the National Harbor, but closed in preparation for NCM’s next stage. Today, the National Children's Museum is poised for its greatest chapter yet, as it prepares to reopen in March 2019.
