Calendar of Events

Visit The Shop to create a robot friend using a variety of materials including cardboard. Use real tools and combine a variety of materials to create your version of a robot that can help you accomplish daily tasks. Best of all, what you make is your to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…

Visit The Shop to create a robot friend using a variety of materials including cardboard. Use real tools and combine a variety of materials to create your version of a robot that can help you accomplish daily tasks. Best of all, what you make is your to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…

In Spark!Lab Smithsonian you can get hands-on with the process of invention: Think It, Explore It, Sketch It, Create It, Try It, Tweak It and Sell It. In this activity, you can use The Discovery’s massive collection of LEGO building blocks to create prototypes (Create It) of your most clever invention. Build your prototype, test its usability (Try It), and then refine as needed (Tweak It).

Develop or refine your carpentry skills when you build a custom photo frame in The Shop. Using a variety of tools and materials, you’ll create a frame perfect for your favorite photograph. Keep it for yourself or give it as a gift! 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.

Celebrate Hot August Nights with a project in The Shop inspired by classic cars and hot rod culture. Using a variety of tools and a selection of wood and wheels, you can design and build your own classic car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…

Celebrate Hot August Nights with a project in The Shop inspired by classic cars and hot rod culture. Using a variety of tools and a selection of wood and wheels, you can design and build your own classic car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…

In Spark!Lab Smithsonian you can get hands-on with the process of invention: Think It, Explore It, Sketch It, Create It, Try It, Tweak It and Sell It. In this activity, you can use The Discovery’s massive collection of LEGO building blocks to create prototypes (Create It) of your most clever invention. Build your prototype, test its usability (Try It), and then refine as needed (Tweak It).

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 a variety of plastics. 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.

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 a variety of plastics. 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.

Visit The Discovery August 16 and 19-20 to explore the transformative world of 3D! Get hands-on with a variety of technology and explore the creative, practical and problem-solving aspects of 3D printing.

Visit The Discovery August 16 and 19-20 to explore the transformative world of 3D! Get hands-on with a variety of technology and explore the creative, practical and problem-solving aspects of 3D printing.

Visit The Discovery August 16 and 19-20 to explore the transformative world of 3D! Get hands-on with a variety of technology and explore the creative, practical and problem-solving aspects of 3D printing.

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 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 like a sewing machine, hot glue and fabric glue to create nearly anything you can imagine out of fabric. 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.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools like a sewing machine, hot glue and fabric glue to create nearly anything you can imagine out of fabric. 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.

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

Visit The Shop to use a variety of tools and materials to design and build your own museum exhibit. Learn woodworking skills, safe tool handling, and effective planning when you combine a variety of materials with expert craftsmanship to create a model of a hands-on museum exhibit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young…

It’s officially fall y’all! The perfect time to visit The Shop to use a variety of availability materials like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, fall-themed decorations, and more to create fabulous fall decor. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

It’s officially fall y’all! The perfect time to visit The Shop to use a variety of availability materials like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, fall-themed decorations, and more to create fabulous fall decor. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

It’s officially fall y’all! The perfect time to visit The Shop to use a variety of availability materials like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, fall-themed decorations, and more to create fabulous fall decor. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.