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 21
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
Giant Games
Try your hand at giant versions of some favorite games including Life, Monopoly, and LEGO bricks.
Level 3, Hall of Generations - South Balcony
Live Screen Printing
Pick a design then watch as Rival Events screen prints it to your swag item of choice
Level 2, Atrium
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.
Lower Level, Stand Together Theater
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. - 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
The Book Hog
Pop! Invention of Bubble Gum
Level 2, Hall of Dreams - North Balcony
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Food trucks
DCity Smokehouse
IC Dreams Ice Cream Truck
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
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Visualizing Impact with Unsung Heroes
Embark on a visual journey through time. ARTEFFECT Executive Director, Dr. Toni Guglielmo, showcases award-winning artworks by young artists from around the globe celebrating the untold and inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes who changed the course of history.
Level 5, ARTEFFECT Gallery
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 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