# Things to do with kids at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

> 4 upcoming family events and 1 ongoing programs and visits at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560, in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area. Dates and times are Eastern Time. Today is Sun, Oct 25.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 25, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-museum-of-natural-history

## Events ahead

- [Play Date at NMNH: Bats!](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/play-date-at-nmnh-bats--listing-8612cd0c941142cd40974f2d) — Tue, Oct 27 · 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · All ages · Free · checked Oct 20. Play Date at NMNH is the Natural History Museum's free, drop-in Tuesday program for early learners and their caregivers, and the October 27 session, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, is…
- [The World & Me: Bat Week Extravaganza](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/the-world-and-me-bat-week-extravaganza--listing-22697b41d3b027a5ffc04ee3) — Sat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · All ages · Free · checked Oct 11. Families examine bat and spider specimens and make artwork about their ecological roles.
- [Play Date: Animal Spotlight — Bison](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/play-date-animal-spotlight-bison--listing-21551783f2506f9c6b7d3768) — Tue, Nov 3 · 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · All ages · Free · checked Oct 11. Young learners observe bison specimens and investigate their role in ecosystems and art.
- [The World & Me: National Bison Day](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/the-world-and-me-national-bison-day--listing-7640539045d019e850c5c4f9) — Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · All ages · Free · checked Oct 11. Drop-in stations introduce bison adaptations, conservation, specimens, play and art.

## Ongoing programs and visits

- [Exhibit Explorations — fall 2026 youth group pilot](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/exhibit-explorations-fall-2026-youth-group-pilot--listing-29043a88addf66e2efd5d3bb) — October 13–December 10, 2026. Henry’s Highlights Tuesdays 10:15 (20–80 students); Sant… · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · Ages 11+ · Free · checked Oct 11. Educator-led youth groups investigate museum exhibits using guided observations and discussion.

## Recently ended

- [Safari Adventure with WETA PBS Kids](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/safari-adventure-with-weta-pbs-kids--listing-1216fbf4ad695161b3a9bf36) — ended Sat, Oct 24
- [Play Date: Awesome Arachnids](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/play-date-awesome-arachnids--listing-20afdd871f8c758b5fa4d1fe) — ended Tue, Oct 20
- [National Fossil Day 2026](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/national-fossil-day-2026--listing-4cfb9bd80bfd79cdf7a334a7) — ended Wed, Oct 14
- [Play Date: Creature Features — Fossil Edition](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/play-date-creature-features-fossil-edition--listing-8d03bbd65df249f2026a1802) — ended Tue, Oct 13

## Nearby

- More venues in Washington, DC: [National Museum of the American Indian (Washington)](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-museum-of-the-american-indian-washington) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-museum-of-the-american-indian-washington.md), [Smithsonian National Museum of American History](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-museum-of-american-history) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-museum-of-american-history.md), [Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-anacostia-community-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-anacostia-community-museum.md), [National Children's Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-children-s-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-children-s-museum.md), [Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/discovery-theater-s-dillon-ripley-center) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/discovery-theater-s-dillon-ripley-center.md), [International Spy Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/international-spy-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/international-spy-museum.md), [National Building Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-building-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/national-building-museum.md), [Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-portrait-gallery) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-portrait-gallery.md), [Smithsonian National Postal Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-postal-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/smithsonian-national-postal-museum.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc.md)
- [This weekend in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend.md)

Venue pages are listed once a venue has 3 current listings.