National Children's Museum051

The National Children's Museum (replacing the Capital Children's Museum, which closed permanently in August 2004) is scheduled to open at the National Harbor in Maryland in 2013.

In the meantime, the museum presents Museum Without Walls programs around the metro area and offers the Launch Zone, a 2,700 square-foot space where children can prototype exhibit components and programs, share their ideas about what should be included in the new museum, and participate in fun and educational programs related to the museum's core content areas.

Through the use of images, table-top interactive exhibits, and computer kiosks, NCM introduces select areas of the museum, while soliciting feedback and input from constituents. Visitors learn about the museum's mission and areas of engagement, in addition to other family-friendly programs and partner organizations, including the Sesame Workshop.

The Launch Zone also hosts ongoing Museum Without Walls programming, professional development workshops and trainings, and community learning events for parents and caregivers.

In addition, the museum has a virtual Launch Zone on its website. Here, kids from across the country and around the world have an opportunity to learn about and test exhibit and program content and help shape the museum through poll questions, surveys, and interactive experiences, like the "build the museum activity" with world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli.