50 years of play
a monumental milestone
In 1974, when only nine children’s museums existed in the country, a dedicated group of Washingtonians decided that DC’s children deserved their own museum. The museum they founded—first called The Children’s Museum of Inquiry and Discovery and later the Capital Children’s Museum—embodied their belief that experiential learning was the best way to inspire children to care about and change the world. This belief, which is enshrined in our mission, has guided our work for the past 50 years.
From exhibits set up as a museum-on-the-move to a state-of-the-art learning center steps in the heart of downtown, National Children’s Museum has been at the forefront of hands-on learning for 50 years.
Help us commemorate this monumental milestone and launch our next 50 years of play!
placita mágica
explore Mexico in a new immersive exhibit
When the Museum opened its first building on Third and H Streets Northeast in 1979, one of the featured experiences was an immersive Mexico exhibit created with the support of the Mexican government. In this beloved exhibit, children were transported to a small village in Mexico where they learned about the country’s culture by exploring a market and making their own Mexican hot chocolate and tortillas.
This summer, the Museum will pay homage to the Capital Children’s Museum and this experience with the opening of a reimagined Mexico exhibit – Placita Mágica – sponsored by Abuelita and developed in partnership with the Embassy of Mexico, the Mexican Cultural Institute.
the stories project
an archive + storytelling initiative
For five decades innovation and inclusion have been at the forefront of the Museum experience. The Stories Project is an opportunity to create connections between the rich history of the Capital Children’s Museum and a vision for the future laid out by National Children’s Museum. In this initiative, we will bring together memories from our community and mementos from our institutional records to celebrate and preserve our legacy.
50th fundraising campaign
your investment, your impact
Celebrate the legacy of hands on learning and help ensure the Museum’s next 50 years as a leader in play!
an evening of celebration, a lifetime of dreaming
In celebration of our monumental anniversary, the Dreamers Gala will be a special opportunity to honor the Museum’s past, present, and future promise to the next generation of innovators. The Gala will bring together individuals and corporate sponsors, public officials, and prominent figures in Washington’s business and cultural communities to raise support for the Museum’s continued work.
