Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
School Programs
General Questions
How do we get to the National Building Museum?
The National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, between 4th and 5th Streets. The Museum is not located on the National Mall. The Museum is conveniently located across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro (Red Line) and two blocks east of the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro (Red, Yellow, and Green Lines). Using the Metro is quick and easy, plus offers a great opportunity to talk with students about city design and transportation. Directions are available at http://www.nbm.org/plan-visit/accessibility-directions/.
Where can we park?
The Museum is unable to provide public parking. Two-hour metered parking for cars is located on all sides of the building. Buses may park in the G Street driveway if drivers remain with their buses at all times. Nearby parking garages for cars and vans are located at the Verizon Center’s 6th Street entrance and at the corner of 7th and H Streets.
What is the best way to communicate with the National Building Museum?
Due to the high volume of phone calls, e-mail is the most efficient method of communication. Email youthgroups@nbm.org for all questions regarding registration. Please note, during certain times of the year, it may take a couple of days to return your phone call or email.
My group has student(s) with physical and/or academic special needs. What is the best procedure to include the student(s) in the program?
The Museum’s hands-on school programs are designed to accommodate all types of learners and are ideal for students with special needs. But in order for your students to get the most out of our programs, it is important for the trained Museum Teachers to be made aware of any special needs your students have. The Museum strongly encourages each group to indicate any special needs, whether physical or academic, when scheduling your visit (e.g., sign-language interpreter, learning disabilities). Given enough information and notification, Museum educators can adapt school programs to fit the specific needs of your students. A wheelchair accessible entrance is located at the G Street entrance of the Museum.
Can we tour the Museum's Great Hall?
Entrance to the Museum's Great Hall is free and accessible to all visitors. You and your students (in small chaperone-led groups) are welcome to walk around the 1st floor and the 2nd and 3rd floor balconies of the Museum. If you would like to schedule a docent-led tour of the Museum's historic building, click here.
Can we visit the Museum's exhibitions?
A select number of school programs include building tours or exhibition visits. All other programs occur in the Museum's Great Hall or classrooms. Your school program fee includes complimentary access to the Museum's exhibitions immediately before or after your program. If you would like to take a self-guided tour of the Museum's exhibitions, you will receive exhibition tickets (wristbands) to distribute to your students upon arrival. For more information about visiting the exhibitions with your students, click here. If you would like to schedule a docent-led tour of an exhibition, click here.
What else can we do at the Museum?
Check out the Museum's everyday activities, designed for small chaperone-led groups.
Registration Questions
What is the fastest way to proceed when scheduling a school program?
Registration is required, and is available online only. Review the program offerings and then go through the registration process.
I haven’t heard anything about my registration. What should I do?
If you have not received a confirmation email immediately after submitting your request, you did not complete the registration process or an error was made while typing your email address. Please email youthgroups@nbm.org or call 202.272.2448 to see if your registration went through.
Our school has financial difficulty. What can we do? Do you offer free programs?
A limited number of free programs are available for Title 1 schools and DC public and public charter schools. As of September 20, 2012, we have reached our capacity for these free programs for the 2012-2013 school year. If you foresee problems paying for your Museum visit, you may contact the School & Youth Groups team by email at youthgroups@nbm.org to discuss payment options.
What is the chaperone policy?
At a minimum, one adult must accompany every five students for grades preK-3, and every ten students for grades 4-12. In addition, each program has minimum chaperone requirements regardless of the number of students: The Patterns program requires at least three chaperones, and all other programs require at least four chaperones. It is important to remember that the chaperones contribute to the students’ experience at the Museum. The hands-on programs require active participation of adults. Discuss this in advance with your chaperones to ensure a quality visit.
We have registered for the Geodesic Dome and/or Be a Green Builder program(s), but do not have the required minimum of 15 students. Can we still participate?
Building the dome or house structures require a great deal of team work and physical work. If there are less than 15 students and four chaperones, safety is a concern and the structures may not be completed during the two hour program time. Please email the School and Youth Groups team at youthgroups@nbm.org to determine how to proceed.
Do you still offer the Bridge Basics program?
The Bridge Basics program is not currently being offered. To bring Bridge Basics to your classroom, read more about the Museum's Bridge Basics Kit.
Do you still offer the Lifecycle of a Building, a Street, and a City?
No, this program is no longer offered.
Day of Visit Questions
What if we are running late?
Please call 202.272.2448 and notify the receptionist and ask them to notify the teaching staff. As indicated in the Museum's school program policies, the Museum has the right to cancel programs that are more than one hour late. It is important to keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.
What if we need to cancel?
Rescheduling must be completed at least three weeks prior to the original program date. Revisit http://go.nbm.org/schoolvisit to book a new program date. After securing a new date, cancel the original reservation by emailing youthgroups@nbm.org. Any payments will be transferred to the new reservation. See the full cancellation and rescheduling policy.
The school district has declared a snow day or has a delayed opening, what should we do?
Please call the Museum at 202.272.2448 once the decision to cancel field trips has been made, no later than 8:30 am. If the school closes or opens late, the Museum will reschedule the program or provide a full refund.
We would like to stay for lunch; will we be able to eat in the Great Hall?
There is no designated space for lunch at the Museum. Your group is welcome to eat in the Great Hall if space is available. However, please be advised that the Great Hall is frequently used for events, during which time students are welcome to eat outside on the Museum’s west lawn or elsewhere. Be sure to have a backup plan for eating lunch, like eating outside or eating on the bus, in case the Great Hall is not available.
