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The Big Draw at The National Building Museum Celebrates Drawing (free Sat 3/14)

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This Saturday, March 14, you’re invited to The Big Draw at The National Building Museum. This third annual event is a free day-long festival for visitors of all ages to discover the power of drawing as a tool for better understanding the world around us. Keep reading to learn how your child can join a drawing workshop with David Macaulay, author and illustrator of The Way Things Work: The Ultimate Guide to How Things Work!

About the National Building Museum

The National Building Museum The Big Draw in the Great Hall

The National Building Museum has always been a family favorite, especially when my kids were little. Conveniently located just across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro stop (red line), it was a place where we could spend an entire day.

I have the best memories of my kids running from end to end of the vast Great Hall before heading upstairs to investigate exhibitions. Hands-on learning opportunities that fostered curiosity about the world we design and build were perfect early STEM experiences for my kids.

About The Big Draw at The National Building Museum

For the third year, visitors of all ages are invited to come to The Big Draw at The National Building Museum. This free event will feature a full day of playful, hands-on creativity with artists, educators, and cultural partners to celebrate the power of drawing.

“At The Big Draw, we see drawing as a powerful tool for communication and understanding,” said Maggie Wald,  Manager of Early Childhood Programs & Community Partnerships for the National Building Museum. “It’s not just a finished product, but an essential part of the design process—helping us share perspectives, solve problems, and build connections in the wider world.” 

Plus, David Macaulay will be there doing live drawing demonstrations and free, 30-minute small-group workshops for participants ages 10 and up who pre-register here. Visitors can bring their own sketchbooks or use materials provided by the Museum.

You may know David Macaulay as the renowned author and illustrator of The Way Things Work: The Ultimate Guide to How Things Work but he’s also a lecturer at Dartmouth Engineering! I love how he talks about the importance of sketching as a way of seeing things in this video.

My kids would study David Macaulay’s illustrations in The Way Things Work for hours.

They’d lie on the floor, heads together, book between them, talking about what they saw. The inner workings of the most mundane things in our everyday lives captivated them, especially when explained by David Macaulay.

Can Opener in The Way Things Work: The Ultimate Guide to How Things Work

It’s probably not surprising that an early fascination of how things work led them to majoring in engineering as current college students!  

Additional experiences in the Great Hall include workshops, storytelling, and local artists. Book giveaways, virtual reality drawing, and hands-on activities will showcase how drawing can deepen our understanding of the world around us.

The Big Draw Schedule of Events

Below is a schedule of the events for The Big Draw

10:00–11:30 am- Illustrator Trap Bob Coloring Book Workshop
Hands-on coloring workshop led by Illustrator Trap Bob.

  • Participants 7 and older are encouraged to pre-register herefor FREE coloring book workshop with illustrator Trap Bob. The first 40 participants will receive a copy of Trap Bob’s new coloring book. 

10:15–11:45 am- Storytime
Storytime is packed full of reading, songs, and activities designed to promote language and literacy skills.

11:00–11:45 am- David Macaulay Drawing Demonstration
Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator David Macaulay shares sketches and techniques.

1:15–1:45 pm- Polish Embassy Storytime
The Polish Embassy presents stories celebrating culture, history, and international connections.

1:15–4:45 pm- David Macaulay Guided Workshops
30-minute hands-on illustration workshops with David Macaulay, suitable for all ages and skill levels.

  • Participants 10 and older are encouraged to pre-register for FREE, 30-minute drawing workshops with David Macaulay. See the full workshop schedule and pre-register here.

Featured Participants at The Big Draw

The following organizations will be at The Big Draw at The National Building Museum this Saturday from 10-5pm:

  • Turning the Page – Engaging families for student success through workshops, museum experiences, and free books.
  • DC Public Library – Bringing stories and activities to inspire young readers.
  • Illustrator Trap Bob – Celebrate her new coloring book launch with a life-sized coloring book! 
  • Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) MFA Program – Showcasing innovative illustration and artistic practice.
  • National Building Museum – Hosting activities and exhibitions that celebrate design and architecture.
  • National Museum of Women in the Arts – Championing women in the arts through engaging programming.
  • National Postal Museum – Sharing history, creativity, and cultural storytelling.
  • Polish Embassy – Experiencing the work of VR drawing with Tomasz Wiktor, and celebrating the cultural and international connections.
  • Positive Chalk DC – Creating spaces for children and families to imagine and inspire their communities.
  • Urban Sketchers – Sketching the Museum from new perspectives.

The Big Draw is free however, there is admission for current exhibitions separate from The Big Draw.

All images courtesy of The National Building Museum. No compensation was received for this post. Amazon affiliate links are included.