DC | Drawing Stories: Family Art Day
Schedule
Sat Jan 17 2026 at 11:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian | Washington, DC
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Learn about historical and contemporary ledger art and narrative art through tours of the exhibition "Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains," along with story time and family-friendly hands-on activities. SCHEDULE
Level 4, Landing
11 AM–1 PM, 2–4 PM | Button Making
Make a narrative art inspired magnetic button to take home.
Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center
11:15 AM | Story Time
Families are invited to an interactive story time featuring the children’s book Tasunka by Donald F. Montileaux. They will have the opportunity to engage with objects from the museum's Teaching Collection such as photographs, textiles, and natural materials that can deepen their understanding of the Lakota community and the tradition of narrative art.
*Due to limited capacity in our spaces, tickets may be needed to enter the Activity Center and therefore the Story room (limited to 25 persons max). Please see staff at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. **Recommended for visitors ages 3-9 years old accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Level 4, Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains
1:15 PM | Family Tour
Families with children will tour the exhibition with highlights on historical and contemporary artworks highlighting childhood.
2 PM | Curator Tour
Curated by Emil Her Many Horses (Oglala Lakota), this exhibition juxtaposes historical hides, muslins, and ledger books with more than 50 contemporary works commissioned by the museum. Illustrating everything from war deeds and ceremonial events to family life, Native identity, and pop culture, the artworks are as diverse as the individuals who created them. Join the curator for a guided tour of an exhibition that celebrates the full expression of narrative art among Native nations of the Great Plains.
ONGOING, 11 AM–4 PM
Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Ledger Art Make & Take
Families will trace their own narrative drawings on ledger paper inspired by historical and contemporary scenes.
Level 4, Landing
Pop Culture Narrative Art
Inspired by contemporary artists from the exhibition, families will illustrate modern themes in the narrative art style on a canvas bag to take home.
Family Winter Count
Winter counts are pictorial records of important events marking a year of time. Visitors will learn about the winter count tradition and create a winter count image to memorialize the past year.
Image: Installation photo by Norwood Photography for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian
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Where is it happening?
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Washington D.C., Washington, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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