You’re invited to Discover Summer with DC Public Library from June 1- Aug. 31. Discover Summer is an all-ages city-wide celebration of reading and learning. Everything you need to Discover Summer can be found at your neighborhood library.
This summer, as our city celebrates America 250, DC Public Library invites readers to dream about what America can become over the next 250 years, imagining a future where every life is valued, liberty thrives, and happiness is a shared possibility for all!
Upcoming Discover Summer Events
Explore More Discover Summer Events
Literary Village - Author Talk with John DeFerrari
Literary Village - Author Talk with John DeFerrari
Sixteenth Street NW: Washington DC's Avenue of Ambitions
Discover Summer for All Ages
Discover Summer for Kids
Discover Summer for Teens
Discover Summer for Adults
Discover Summer Library Days
You know that your DC Public Library Card can connect you to books, movies, music and more but this summer your library card is also your ticket to some of D.C.'s hottest museums! DC Public Library is partnering with local museums to host Library Days where families can enjoy special experiences.
Saturday June 20 | The Rubell Museum
Sign up to Discover Summer at The Rubell Museum!
This event will celebrate access to literacy and the important work of Basil Kincaid. Kincaid’s work pays homage to the long history of quilt-making while exploring the relationships between identity, ancestry, and place. Some themes are deeply personal and autobiographical, others are more universal, but all evoke the joy inherent in the artist’s love for and nurturing of community. This event will feature a special storytime, and a fun arts and crafts activities. Families and library customers of all ages are welcome. Registration for this event is mandatory.
Saturday, June 27 | The Phillips Collection
This event will highlight Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series as a window into the past and an integral part of the American story. Families are invited to learn about the artist during storytime, create art influenced by his artistic process, and explore Lawrence’s work directly in the galleries on a family-friendly tour. Registration for this event is mandatory.
Wednesday, July 8 | National Museum of Women in the Arts
The DC Public Library is excited to celebrate Discover Summer with you at NMWA, the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. The museum addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.
Join us for a fun community day and explore current exhibitions and collections, including the contemporary art installation from Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg’s Making Their Mark exhibition, as well as Burnished: Pueblo Pottery at NMWA.
Saturday, July 11 | President Lincoln's Cottage
Bring your family to an exciting morning and afternoon full of crafts, games, and community on Abraham Lincoln’s lawn! The DC Public Library is excited to celebrate Discover Summer with you at Lincoln's Cottage. President Lincoln’s Cottage is a historic site and museum located on a 250 acre campus located in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C., President Lincoln’s Cottage, its galleries, and its landscape feature experiences for all ages.
Saturday, July 25 | National Museum of American History
In 2026, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is leading the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations with a bold, immersive exhibition exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness traces how Americans have pursued the promises of our nation’s founding. stop by the library's table for fun activities, suggested reading lists, and so much more.
The National Museum of History is completely free but please register at the links below to receive more information about the day's programming.
Saturday, Aug. 8 | National Zoo
Join us on Saturday, August 8 for National Zoo Elephant Day, a celebration of Asian elephants and the Smithsonian’s long-standing commitment to their care and conservation. Your favorite DC librarians will host special storytimes, give away DC library swag, and share some amazing titles for you to check out. Make sure you stop by to meet the zoo's new baby elephant, Linh Mai!
Monday, Aug. 10 | National Building Museum
Make memories at the National Building Museum this summer. Can you think of one place every American town has—or should have? If you guessed playground, you're right!
Use your library card to gain free access to the National Building Museum’s indoor Playground. Playgrounds are part of our universal memory—a shared space of delight and discovery that transcends age, location, and time. By bringing typically public infrastructure indoors, THE PLAYGROUND creates an awe‑inspiring, nontraditional environment centered on the mental and physical benefits of play.
Designed for all ages, the installation encourages motion, exploration, and togetherness in an immersive environment where play becomes a shared social and cultural experience.
Registration opens July 10.
Monday, Aug. 17 | Museum of Illusions
The DC Public Library is excited to Discover Summer with you at the Museum of Illusions, a museum filled with perspective changing-rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images. You can try the famous Beuchet Chair or the Cloning Table. Discover a brilliant collection of perspective-changing rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images. The exhibits will teach you that nothing is ever quite as it seems, especially in the Museum of Illusions. Get ready to be mesmerized! Stop by the DC Library table for DC swag and book giveaways while supplies last!
Registration Opens July 17
Discover Summer Is Generously Supported By
