Explore! Sandbox

Visit our online hub for our favorite at-home activities.

Kid's Maker Space Series

Every Friday 4-7 PM

150,000 Visitors at 'Explore with the National Portrait Gallery'

We're celebrating 3 Years at the ’Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery’ room.

EXPLORE! Sandbox

Creative Resources at your Fingertips.
Explore! Sandbox is ready for you.

community festivals

Every summer enjoy family-friendly activities, meet new neighbors, and learn what Explore! has in store for our community.

Mission Mobile

Journey through the human body or trek through uncharted waters in the Explore! Mission Mobile bus. Contact us if you know an organization we should visit!

STAY Connected!

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Experience Something New Every Day

There’s always something exciting happening – from daily family activities and weekly community gatherings to special monthly events that bring everyone together. Whether you’re looking for a creative workshop, a fitness class, or a lively festival, this is your go-to destination for fun and connection. Explore our events and make every visit memorable.

August 29, 2025

Paint Your Own Tile

Turn plain ceramic tiles into tiny works of art!

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August 15, 2025

Clay Workshop

Make clay miniatures with Ms. Clara!

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August 16, 2025

Parent + Kid Coffee Morning

Join us for our very first Parent/Kid Coffee event.

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August 20, 2025

Clay Workshop Part 2

Paint clay miniatures with Ms. Clara!

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August 22, 2025

Clay Workshop Part 3

Decorate clay miniatures with Ms. Clara!

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August 1, 2025

Kid's Maker Space Series

A creative hub for local kids and families to build, explore, and imagine together.

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August 8, 2025

Dance Workshop with with local artist Clara Malone!

A creative hub for local kids and families to build, explore, and imagine together.

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July 25, 2025

Kid's Maker Space Series

A creative hub for local kids and families to build, explore, and imagine together.

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July 11, 2025

Kid's Maker Space Series: Collage Workshop

A creative hub for local kids and families to build, explore, and imagine together.

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July 18, 2025

Kid's Maker Space Series

A creative hub for local kids and families to build, explore, and imagine together.

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August 23, 2025

"Minecraft" Back to School Bash & Pizza Party

Enjoy some summer fun for the whole family!

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June 28, 2025

Field Day Fun

Share your nostalgic field day favorites with the whole family this summer!

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July 18, 2025

Hand Painted Swinger

Mark your calendars for this Rock/Alt Rock cover band you won't want to miss out on!

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Family Fun Day with the Explore! Museum

Bring the family for a day of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities designed to inspire creativity and play.

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nurturing CURIOUS, creative children

THINKERS

CREATORS

COMMUNICATORS

COLLABORATORS

Building the skills our children need in the 21st century

Explore!
Engages

Explore! Children’s Museum of Washington, DC is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children birth through age 10 in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.

1990

Creativity scores for K-6 students have significantly decreased since 1990

The explore!
HUB

The museum will be located in the Fort Totten neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC adjacent to the Fort Totten Metro Station. Explore! will be part of Art Place, a Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation project - featuring neighborhood retail, a performance hall, a food collective, and The Modern apartments.

69.6 %

of businesses reported critical-thinking deficiencies in new hires.

Mission Mobile

Go on adventures through space, underwater, or in the human body, in our mobile simulator.

1,500

CEOs identified creativity as the number one " leadership competency " of the future – IBM Poll