Calendar of Events

Visitors will be given access to craft supplies and cardboard pieces (including recycled materials like plastics) and asked to create a robot of their own design, they will be prompted to think about its function and what it needs to do those things. Does it drive? It will need wheels!

In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the first African American woman to be granted a patent for her invention, the cabinet bed. This is an example of functional furniture, which is a versatile space-saving item that can preform multiple tasks. Today, based on Sarah Goode’s invention, we have the Murphy bed and the hide-a-bed. Join us in The Shop and build your own contraption that can do two things at the same time. Using available supplies, visitors will have the…

The future of robotics is promising. But what can robots do to help humans in our daily lives? Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a robot using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials that can aid in daily tasks. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the first African American woman to be granted a patent for her invention, the cabinet bed. This is an example of functional furniture, which is a versatile space-saving item that can preform multiple tasks. Today, based on Sarah Goode’s invention, we have the Murphy bed and the hide-a-bed. Join us in The Shop and build your own contraption that can do two things at the same time. Using available supplies, visitors will have the…

The future of robotics is promising. But what can robots do to help humans in our daily lives? Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a robot using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials that can aid in daily tasks. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

The future of robotics is promising. But what can robots do to help humans in our daily lives? Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a robot using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials that can aid in daily tasks. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

The future of robotics is promising. But what can robots do to help humans in our daily lives? Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a robot using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials that can aid in daily tasks. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

The future of robotics is promising. But what can robots do to help humans in our daily lives? Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a robot using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials that can aid in daily tasks. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Elizabeth Magie created the Landlord’s Game in 1904. In the Landlord’s Game, players roll dice and as they make their way around the game board they can buy popular locations in New York. Does this sound familiar? Put your do-it-yourself skills to work in The Shop when you use real tools and materials to create your own fun game to play with family and friends. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly.…

Elizabeth Magie created the Landlord’s Game in 1904. In the Landlord’s Game, players roll dice and as they make their way around the game board they can buy popular locations in New York. Does this sound familiar? Put your do-it-yourself skills to work in The Shop when you use real tools and materials to create your own fun game to play with family and friends. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly.…

In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During Open Build, take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Get under the hood at The Discovery! Motor on down to The Discovery for a day filled with hands-on automotive themed activities for car enthusiasts of every age. Join experts from NAPA AutoCare Centers to explore the inner workings of automobiles and the systems that make them go, turn and stop. Here are some of the exciting things happening on this special day:

Visit The Shop to create a dinosaur-themed classic wooden pull toy. Choose from a variety of materials and go to work with your choice of woodworking tools to create a prehistoric toy that will fondly follow you everywhere you go! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to combine science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to create a spring themed decoration that transfers energy to light an LED. Design, test and refine your creation until you’re pleased with how it works. Best of all, what create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to combine science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to create a spring themed decoration that transfers energy to light an LED. Design, test and refine your creation until you’re pleased with how it works. Best of all, what create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Mary Louise “Missy” Cummings Ph.D. was one of the United States Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is also a mechanical engineer and professor specializing in human-autonomous system interaction. She has conducted influential research on artificial intelligence, automation, and human patterns in engineering. Take inspiration from Missy Cummings Ph.D. when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a jet. Using available materials and real tools, you can create your own version of a fighter jet! Please note: The Shop offers access to real…

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Mary Louise “Missy” Cummings Ph.D. was one of the United States Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is also a mechanical engineer and professor specializing in human-autonomous system interaction. She has conducted influential research on artificial intelligence, automation, and human patterns in engineering. Take inspiration from Missy Cummings Ph.D. when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a jet. Using available materials and real tools, you can create your own version of a fighter jet! Please note: The Shop offers access to real…

Visit The Shop to create an artistic representation of a beautiful flower. Using wood and a variety of other materials, you can create a vibrant spring flower. What you make is yours to take home! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.