Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
School Programs
General Questions
How do we get to the National Building Museum?
The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, and is adjacent to the Judiciary Square station on Metro’s Red Line.
Using the Metro is quick and easy, plus offers a great opportunity to talk with students about city design and transportation. The Museum is unable to provide public parking. Two-hour metered parking is available on all sides of the building. Buses may park in the G Street driveway. Bus drivers must remain with the bus at all times. Click here for detailed directions to the National Building Museum.
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 school programs are designed to accommodate all needs and are ideal for those students with special needs because they are hands-on and designed to complement a variety of learning styles. 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 notification, Museum educators can adapt school programs to fit the specific needs of your students. Please indicate how best to accommodate the student(s). A wheelchair accessible entrance is located at the G Street entrance of the Museum.
Can we tour the Museum? What else can my group do at the Museum?
Unless specified, school programs do not include a tour of the Museum building or exhibitions. We encourage you and your students to visit the Museum exhibitions. Please be sure to allow extra time for this and to provide enough chaperones to supervise students. Visit the exhibitions page to learn more about what is on view.
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 fill out the online registration form with your top three desired dates. Written confirmation with the final date and time of the program constitutes a booking guarantee and will be emailed by the Museum. Please allow three weeks for processing.
I haven’t heard anything about my registration, what should I do?
It takes 2-3 weeks to process each request. If you have not received a confirmation email after 3 weeks, please email youthgroups@nbm.org or call 202.272.2448, ext. 3450. Once you receive the confirmation letter, your program(s) is confirmed.
We are unable to pay until a date is confirmed. What should we do about payment?
You will be sent a confirmation letter and invoice when your program is confirmed. Payment by check or credit card is due three weeks before your program. The Museum will no longer hold credit cards.
Our school has financial difficulty, what can we do? We are a Title I school, do you offer free programs?
The Museum offers no cost school programs to Title I schools. If your school is a Title I school please provide a letter from the school principal documenting the school’s Title I status along with your registration form. You can also contact the Assistant School and Youth Groups Coordinator by email at youthgroups@nbm.org to discuss other payment options.
What is the chaperone policy?
At a minimum, one adult must accompany every five students for grades pre-K-3, and every ten students for grades 4-12. 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 Assistant School and Youth Groups Coordinator at youthgroups@nbm.org with questions.
Day of Visit Questions
What if we are running late?
Please call 202.272.2448 and notify the receptionist. The receptionist will then notify the teaching staff. As indicated in the confirmation letter, 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?
If you need to cancel or reschedule a program, please contact the Assistant School and Youth Groups Coordinator immediately. To be eligible for a refund, minus a $10 non-refundable administrative fee, a written request must be received no later than three weeks prior to the confirmed date. Without three weeks notice, you will still be charged for the program(s).
The school district has declared a snow day, 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, 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 in case the Great Hall is not available – i.e. eating outside or eating on the bus. Please do not call to find out if space will be available on the day of your program as the schedule changes often.
