National Children's Museum

National Children’s Museum

Established	1974 (originally the Capital Children’s Museum, Washington, DC)
Type	Children's museum
Website	www.nationalchildrensmuseum.org

Slated to reopen the holiday season of 2019 in downtown Washington, D.C., the National Children’s Museum will serve children from birth to age 12 and their families through interactive exhibits exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). The Museum is a hybrid of a children’s museum and a science center.

The Museum’s mission is to inspire children to care about and change the world. The Museum received a U.S. Congressional designation in 2003 when Congress identified a need for a nationally recognized cultural and educational institution specifically for children.

History

Judith Grummon Nelson founded the Capital Children’s Museum in 1974. In 1979, the Museum moved into a building at 220 H Street, NE, in Washington, D.C., a former Little Sisters of the Poor home. The H Street location closed in August 2004.

From 2004 to 2012, National Children’s Museum operated as a “museum without walls,” forging partnerships with other organizations. The Museum participated in a wide variety of events, which reached hundreds of thousands of children and families, including the White House Easter Egg Roll, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. Museum staff also conducted educational outreach activities in 14 states.

From 2009 to 2015, the Museum was located in National Harbor, Maryland, first at the Launch Zone, a 2,700-square-foot space, and then in a larger location with exhibits such as “3 & Under” and “Our World.” In November 2014, the Museum’s leadership announced that the institution would return to Washington, D.C.; the National Harbor location closed in January 2015.

Reopening (2019)

The Museum’s new 30,000-square-foot home in downtown Washington, D.C., is on the Woodrow Wilson Plaza, steps from the National Mall and a short walk from the White House. Travel Channel listed the Museum in its “10 Most Anticipated U.S. Museum Openings of 2019,” and USA Today included it in “Great New Museums for 2019.” Exhibits will explore developmentally aligned STEAM concepts, including early computer science skills, data literacy, the design thinking process, and environmental science.

External links

• National Children's Museum
• NCM Facebook Page
• NCM Instagram
• NCM Twitter
• The 90's raw: Capital Children's Museum Video of the Capital Children's Museum in the 1990s

References

• "Editor's Picks: Best Events this Weekend", The Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2012

Sutton, Benjamin, "National Children’s Museum Eyes November Opening, Will Boast on Big Wheel Racetrack", ArtInfo, June 6, 2012

Parker, Lonnae O'Neal, "National Children’s Museum (finally!) reopening at National Harbor", The Washington Post, June 12, 2012

Hager, Nathan, "National Children’s Museum one step closer to opening in Pr. George’s County", WTOP.com, June 12, 2012

Eatough, Allison, "Eight Great Museum Exhibits That Engage Children of All Ages", Maryland Family Magazine, July 22, 2012

• "National Children’s Museum Launch Zone (National Harbor, MD)", The Meanest Momma, Aug. 31, 2012

Cooper, Rachel, "National Children’s Museum Fall Programming", About.com, Aug. 29, 2012

• "The Weekend Round-Up: August 17-19", KidFriendlyDC, Aug. 17, 2012

Sowah, Jillian S. "Prince George’s County community calendar, Aug. 16-23, 2012", The Washington Post, Aug. 17, 2012

• "Worth the Drive: Kids Can Go for the Gold at National Harbor", NBC4, Aug. 3, 2012

Cooper, Rachel, "Washington DC Events – Top Things to Do this Weekend", About.com, Aug. 3, 2012

• "Go for the GOLD at the National Children’s Museum", (cool) progeny, Aug. 2, 2012
• "Go for the Gold", Gazette Newspapers, Aug. 2, 2012
• "Weekend Roundup August 2, 2012", The Georgetowner, Aug. 2, 2012
• "The Weekend Round-Up: August 3-5", KidFriendlyDC, Aug. 2, 2012

"Editor’s Pick: Go for the Gold", In the Loop: Washington Parent E-News, Aug. 2, 2012

"Meet a former Olympian at National Children’s Museum", Chesapeake Family Magazine, July 30, 2012

• "10 Children’s Museums for Olympics-Themed Fun", Kidventurous, July 25, 2012

"Editor’s Pick: Go for the Gold", In the Loop: Washington Parent E-News, July 25, 2012

• "Field Trip: August Events at the National Children’s Museum (NCM)", DullesMoms.com, July 25, 2012

Sowah, Jillian S. "Things to do July 19-Aug. 2: Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Ledisi and Eric Benet perform at DAR", The Washington Post, July 20, 2012

• "National Harbor, MD: A Great Summer Destination for Families", Trekaroo, July 14, 2012

Sowah, Jillian S. "Prince George’s County wellness calendar, July 12-19", The Washington Post, July 12, 2012

"Editor’s Pick: SunWise", In the Loop: Washington Parent E-News, July 11, 2012

• "10 New Meeting Venues in Washington", BizBash, July 9, 2012
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• "The Weekend Round-Up: July 6-8", KidFriendlyDC, July 6, 2012
• "Date Night in Prince George’s County: Movies, Baseball and More", Upper Marlboro Patch, July 5, 2012

"National Children’s Museum to Open This Year at National Harbor", FestivalDC.com, June 14, 2012

• "Everybody Walk the Dinosaur: Toddler Tuesdays at the NCM Launch Zone", Not So Stay-at-home Mom, May 12, 2012