Children's Museums

National Children's Museum

Name: National Children's Museum
Address: Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004, Washington, DC, US
Telephone: (202) 844-2486
Rating: 4.3

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1599 reviews)

📍 Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

📞 (202) 844-2486

🌐 nationalchildrensmuseum.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Friday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Sunday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM

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About National Children's Museum

Creative museum for arts, science & more. Reimagined kids' museum with exhibits & hands-on programs for science, technology, arts & more. The Dream Machine is a three-story climbing structure and slide that serves as a flagship attraction, noted as a major highlight by visitors. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by 1,599 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Children's Museum
Best For: Infants to school age
Highlights: Dream Machine three-story climber, interactive STEAM exhibits, weather simulation, art activities
Admission: $18.95 adults and kids (1+), free under 1, free for members
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 9:30am-4:30pm, closed Tuesdays

💡 Did You Know?

⭐The Dream Machine is a three-story climbing structure and slide that serves as a flagship attraction, noted as a major highlight by visitors
🏛️The museum features a dedicated Placita Mágica exhibit created for the museum's 50th anniversary celebration
⭐The museum offers specialized exhibit areas for infants and toddlers called 'Little Dreamers' with cloud and flight-themed design, indicating intentional programming for the youngest visitors
⭐Two major traveling exhibitions are scheduled: 'The Pigeon Comes to Washington DC: A Mo Willems Exhibit' (January-May 2026) and 'Curious George: Let's Get Curious!' (May-September 2026)

💬 What Visitors Say

💡Start with the Dream Machine exhibit - it's consistently mentioned as a visitor favorite and highly engaging for keeping kids entertained throughout the visit.
💬Budget 2-3 hours for your visit and plan accordingly - while the museum offers engaging interactive exhibits, visitors note the space is relatively compact for the admission price.
💬Consider a membership if planning multiple visits - unlimited admission and exclusive members-only hours/events offer better value than paying per-visit admission given the venue size.
💬Book group visits (10+ people) in advance to receive 10% discount on admission, especially for birthday parties or field trips which are offered regularly.
💡Plan your visit around special exhibits like 'The Pigeon Comes to Washington DC' (Jan-May 2026) or 'Curious George' (May-Sept 2026) to maximize the educational value and variety of hands-on activities available.