Calendar of Events

Touch and explore real fossils and learn about the fossilization process in this quick, hands-on activity. You’ll also have the chance to make your own fossil imprint fossil to keep. Exploration Station activity available 10:30am to 4:30pm.

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, whatever you create 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.

Using wire, pipe cleaners and a variety of beads in The Shop, build clever little ears of corn for a festive holiday decoration. 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.

Join A T. rex Named Sue at this year’s Chemistry of the Cocktail, The Discovery’s premier fundraising event, and prepare for a colossal exploration into the science behind the craft of paleontologically-themed martinis and other cocktails. Add to that delicious fare from your favorite local culinary hot spots, and you have the recipe for a great way to support the museum. Help raise $100,000 in a single night to support The Discovery’s mission to inspire by being the place to…

Using wire, pipe cleaners and a variety of beads in The Shop, build clever little ears of corn for a festive holiday decoration. 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 real pumpkins and gourds to create a unique work of art. Carefully slice a pumpkin or gourd and apply paint to imprint a festive design on paper. 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.

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, whatever you create 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.

Skip the Black Friday madness and make plans to shop the Blue Friday sale in the museum store at The Discovery for the smartest selection of gadgets, toys, apparel, games, puzzles, science kits, and more! 30% off everything in the museum store from 7:00am to 10:00am 20% off everything in the museum store from 10:00am to 1:00pm Discounts valid for museum members and nonmembers. Discounts valid on museum store merchandise only. May not be combined with standard member discount or…

Light up your holiday and a loved one’s mailbox when you visit The Shop to create an LED holiday greeting card. Combine arts and crafts with electrical engineering when you add an LED bulb and circuitry to a holiday card you create. The result is certain to brighten the season! 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…

Light up your holiday and a loved one’s mailbox when you visit The Shop to create an LED holiday greeting card. Combine arts and crafts with electrical engineering when you add an LED bulb and circuitry to a holiday card you create. The result is certain to brighten the season! 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…

Light up your holiday and a loved one’s mailbox when you visit The Shop to create an LED holiday greeting card. Combine arts and crafts with electrical engineering when you add an LED bulb and circuitry to a holiday card you create. The result is certain to brighten the season! 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…

Combine architecture with a holiday tradition and an alternative material and you’ve got a brand new activity in The Shop! These aren’t your traditional gingerbread houses, these are made out of cardboard. Design and build your very own holiday house and decorate it with a variety of fun, festive items. 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…

Combine architecture with a holiday tradition and an alternative material and you’ve got a brand new activity in The Shop! These aren’t your traditional gingerbread houses, these are made out of cardboard. Design and build your very own holiday house and decorate it with a variety of fun, festive items. 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…

Combine architecture with a holiday tradition and an alternative material and you’ve got a brand new activity in The Shop! These aren’t your traditional gingerbread houses, these are made out of cardboard. Design and build your very own holiday house and decorate it with a variety of fun, festive items. 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…

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Fun with Robots In this Tech!Night activity, you’ll have the chance to code robots, race robots, and even create a robot from…

Decorate for the holidays with an ornament you create in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create your version of a festive holiday decoration. What you make is yours to keep to decorate your home or give as a treasured holiday 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.

Stop by this hands-on activity to learn more about the land where dinosaurs lived. You’ll explore the landscape they inhabited and understand how relatively recently they roamed the Earth, especially when you consider the age of our universe. Activity available 11:30am – 1:30pm.

Decorate for the holidays with an ornament you create in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create your version of a festive holiday decoration. What you make is yours to keep to decorate your home or give as a treasured holiday 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.

Stop by this hands-on activity to find out about the land where dinosaurs lived. You’ll explore the landscape they inhabited and understand how recently they roamed the Earth, especially when you consider the age of our universe. Activity available 12:30 – 2:30pm

Shop the smartest selection of toys, science kits, apparel, games, puzzles, and more during additional museum store hours at The Discovery. Enjoy 25% off your entire purchase,* complimentary coffee and hot chocolate, and gift wrapping. And, every purchase earns you an entry into a drawing for a FREE Plasma Car to be given away on December 24th. *Discount does not apply to sale items. Please note: The museum store will be open during this event, however access to the museum’s…

Shop the smartest selection of toys, science kits, apparel, games, puzzles, and more during additional museum store hours at The Discovery. Enjoy 25% off your entire purchase,* complimentary coffee and hot chocolate, and gift wrapping. And, every purchase earns you an entry into a drawing for a FREE Plasma Car to be given away on December 24th. *Discount does not apply to sale items. Please note: The museum store will be open during this event, however access to the museum’s…

Decorate for the holidays with an ornament you create in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create your version of a festive holiday decoration. What you make is yours to keep to decorate your home or give as a treasured holiday 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.