National Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Capital Children's Museum |
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| Established | 1974 |
| Location | Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C. |
| Type | Children's museum |
| Accreditation | AAM, ACM, ASTC |
| Founder | Judith Grummon Nelson |
| Public transit access |  Washington Metro   at Federal Triangle |
The National Children's Museum is a super fun place in Washington, D.C.. It's a special children's museum and science center made for kids up to age 12 and their families. You can explore amazing things about science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through interactive exhibits.
This museum first opened in 1974. It moved around a few times over the years. From 1979 to 2004, it was at 220 H Street, NE. Then, it became a "museum without walls" for a while. In 2009, it opened in National Harbor, Maryland, but that location closed in 2015.
A brand new location opened on February 24, 2020. This one is in the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington. It had to close temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it reopened on September 2, 2021.
The museum's main goal is to inspire kids like you. They want to help you care about the world and even change it for the better! In 2003, the U.S. Congress officially recognized the museum. They saw a need for a special place just for children to learn and explore.
Contents
Discover the Museum's Journey
The National Children's Museum has an interesting past. It started as the Capital Children's Museum.
How the Museum Began
Judith Grummon Nelson founded the museum in 1974. A few years later, in 1979, the museum found a home. It moved into a building at 220 H Street, NE, in Washington, D.C. This building used to be a home for the Little Sisters of the Poor. The H Street location closed its doors in August 2004.
A Museum Without Walls
From 2004 to 2012, the National Children's Museum tried something different. It became a "museum without walls." This meant it didn't have a fixed building. Instead, it teamed up with other groups and organizations.
The museum took part in many exciting events. These events reached hundreds of thousands of children and families. Some of these included the White House Easter Egg Roll and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. They also joined Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. Museum staff even traveled to 14 different states to teach kids.
Moving to National Harbor
From 2009 to 2015, the museum had a spot in National Harbor, Maryland. First, it was a smaller space called the Launch Zone. Later, it moved to a bigger area with cool exhibits. These included "3 & Under" for little ones and "Our World."
In November 2014, the museum leaders announced a big decision. They decided to move the museum back to Washington, D.C. The National Harbor location closed in January 2015.
Finding a New Home Downtown
After a long search, the museum found the perfect new spot. It's in downtown Washington, D.C., right next to the Ronald Reagan Building. This location is super convenient. It's just a short walk from the famous National Mall and the White House.
The new space is 30,000 square feet. It's filled with modern and interactive exhibits. These exhibits help kids learn about STEAM topics. You can explore early computer science skills and how to understand data. You can also learn about the design thinking process and environmental science.
The museum quickly gained attention for its new home. Travel Channel listed it as one of the "10 Most Anticipated U.S. Museum Openings of 2019." USA Today also included it in its list of "Great New Museums for 2019."
The opening of this new location was planned for March 2019. It was delayed a couple of times. First, it moved to November 1, 2019, and then finally opened on February 24, 2020.
