SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES

Kids Can Experience Nighttime Adventures at the Smithsonian This Summer

Dinos and Discoveries Await Families After Hours at the National Museum of Natural History


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An African bull elephant greets visitors in the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History. James Di Loreto / Smithsonian

Next month, Smithsonian Associates debuts Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures, an after-hours experience for children at the National Museum of Natural History. When the crowds are gone, and the doors have closed, one of the world’s most popular museums is their playground until nearly midnight. Young adventurers and their adult chaperones join other night owls as they immerse themselves in a unique Smithsonian experience.

As they wander through the museum’s galleries, brushed by giant shadows cast by dinosaurs, they explore the Earth’s past, discover the wonders of the ocean and more. The night is filled with fun and activities, from making an underwater fossil and discovering whale ankle bones to picking a pollinator and building a dinosaur—and even learning how to eat like one.

Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures are designed for children ages 8 to 14 and their adult chaperones. The Friday-evening events are set for July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5 and August 12 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. All participants must pre-register.

The museum and its creatures await!