Opening Weekend Celebration
Come for the fun, leave with a purpose! The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is opening its doors in the heart of D.C. Be among the first to step inside our flagship exhibition, the American Dream Experience: 70,000 square feet of bold ideas, powerful storytelling, immersive technology, and thematic galleries, designed to spark your imagination and illuminate your path.
September 20
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
1503 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005
Join us for a two-day celebration of art, interactive experiences, food, family-friendly fun, and creative pop-ups that will help you find yourself in the American Dream.
All Day
Scavenger Hunt
Search for clues throughout the center.
Pick up at Welcome Desk
Face Painting with Bubbles Productions
Second Floor, Atrium
Giant Games
Try your hand at giant versions of your favorite games Life, Monopoly, and LEGO bricks.
Third Floor, Hall of Generations - South Balcony
America: Built on Dreams (Beginning at 10:30 a.m.)
Surround yourself in this immersive theater experience with a film that explores five different people’s pursuit of their dreams. The 18-minute film tells stories of determination and grit, play and dedication and surrounds you with heartwarming accounts of people’s lives as they work to achieve their dreams.
Level 1, Stand Together Theater
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
DuPont Brass
Hailed from the musical halls of Howard University, the eight-piece band, Howard alumni will perform on 15th Street as we open our doors.
Outside, 15th Street NW
Constellations of Wishes: A Guided Meditation & Corsage-Making Workshop (top of every hour)
This hands-on activity is inspired by The Wishes mural and led by its artist, VEXTA. Participants set an intention (“a wish for our shared future”) in a guided meditation, then craft a bright wearable Wish Corsage echoing the mural’s neon-cosmic flora.
Level 2, Atrium
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mapping Your Story: Genealogy 101
What is genealogy and how do you get started? Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream Content Curators will introduce primary sources and how to interpret them in this genealogy activity. Come learn about researching your family history and pick up resources including a starter family tree template.
Lower Level, Reflections Gallery
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ben's Chili Bowl
Celebrate the success of Ben’s Chili Bowl, a local business that continues to be a staple in the DC community, with traditional fare including vegetarian and vegan options.
Level 2, Atrium
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Highlights Tour
Join a Gallery Educator for a tour of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream and the flagship exhibition, the American Dream Experience
Level 1, Tree of Generations near Welcome Desk
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mindful Movement
Incorporate healthy movement and a mindfulness moment to your visit with yoga in this all-level, family-friendly session led by Flow Yoga Center.
Level 5, Health & Medical Research Galleries
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Story Time
Rosalind Franklin
The Squirrel Manifesto
Level 2, Hall of Dreams - North Balcony
11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Food trucks
Little Miner Tacos
DCity Smokehouse
Outside; 15th Street NW
Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Health Screenings
Help prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease in a casual, informative setting. Visit Inova Well health screening booths to chat nutrition, perform an in-body screening, take a grip health assessment and even a blood pressure test.
Level 5, Health & Medical Research Galleries
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Stories Through Fabric
Fabric is a powerful storytelling material and carries history. Explore Suchitra Mattai’s textile installation with Lindsay O’Connor, Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream Associate Director of Education. Design your own textile art while combining colors and textures that speak to you and your background.
Level 1, Hall of Dreams
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
How to Find Your Million-Dollar Idea
Join this interactive workshop to identify and grow your million-dollar business idea. Led by author, investor, and professor at Georgetown University, Eric Koester, as he breaks down key insights of successful entrepreneurship.
Level 5, Workshop Room
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Re-Creating Your American Dream
Despite our best intentions, there are various reasons we might struggle to achieve our American Dream. Reflect on which pillars you need to actualize your dream by making your own multi-media zine. Pop-in to this crafty workshop led by Jordan Potash, licensed art therapist and George Washington University Professor.
Level 5, Workshop Room
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
America: Built on Dreams Screening and Conversation
Surround yourself in this immersive theater experience with a film that explores five different people’s pursuit of their dreams. After the film stay for a conversation with the film's subjects led by Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream Executive Director, Rachel Goslins.
Lower Level, Stand Together Theater
Update: If you reserved tickets for the American Dream: Disco Fever party, it has been postponed due to circumstances beyond our control. The good news is that your tickets remain valid for both days—Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.