Tag Archives: Union Station

May 2, 2011 · 12:22 pm

All Aboard for National Train Day

Do the names Thomas, Percy, and Topham have special meaning in your household? Does your child go loco for locomotives? If you’ve got a young train enthusiast in your midst, then take note: This Saturday, May 7, is the 4th Annual National Train Day, a coast-to-coast celebration of America’s love of trains and the 40th anniversary of Amtrak service in the U.S.

Locally, the main festivities will take place at the obvious venue — Union Station. From 11am – 4pm, guests of all ages can enjoy and experience a variety of train-related fun. Live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids’ activities, model train displays and tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and notable private railroad cars.

Young engineers are also invited to help Amtrak celebrate its birthday at the AmtraKids Depot, where non-stop fun will include creating party decorations, engaging in cool arts and crafts, and decorating cookies. Kids can also rock out with the Diggity Dudes, a group that performs “hip music for hip kids.”

From there, you can chug on over to the National Postal Museum, where even more National Train Day activities will take place, also from 11am – 4pm. Relating to its “Moving the Mail” exhibit, the celebration will include hands-on fun for the whole family. Guests can speed-sort mail, watch model trains, toot a train whistle, make a souvenir stamp, and more. The National Postal Museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NW, and the event will take place in the Museum Atrium.

For more information about both FREE events see the National Train Day and National Postal Museum websites.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Free, Live Entertainment, Museums, Music, Trains, Union Station, Weekend

Tagged as 4th Annual National Train Day, Amtrak 40th Anniversary, Diggity Dudes, Moving the Mail, National Postal Museum, Union Station, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Washington DC Weekend May 7-8

December 1, 2010 · 8:49 am

Light up the Holidays at Union Station

If the National Christmas Tree Lighting lottery didn’t work out in your favor, here’s something that could be a consolation: Union Station is hosting its own tree lighting ceremony tomorrow, December 2, at 6pm, and the public is invited to attend the free event.

Here are all the details:
For the 14th year, Norway will light the 32-foot Christmas tree at Union Station. The tree is a gift to the people of Washington and a symbol of the friendship between the United States and Norway. The tree will be lit by the Ambassador of Norway, Wegger Chr. Strommen.

Internationally recognized Children’s Chorus of Washington, which represents over 100 schools in the metropolitan Washington area, will perform holiday songs.

The event is also an opportunity to stop by the Norwegian Giant Model Train exhibit in the West Hall at Union Station. The trains are hand-made replicas of actual Norwegian trains set in a Norwegian landscape of mountains and fjords, and will run throughout the Holiday season.

Holiday Card-Making at the National Postal Museum

Kids can exercise their creativity and get into the holiday spirit at a special Holiday Card Workshop hosted by the National Postal Museum this Saturday, December 4, from 2 – 3:30pm. Artist Thalia Doukas provides stamp-centric inspiration for cards and mailable ornaments. Each participant can create two beautiful cards for friends, family members, or donation to American military personnel serving overseas through Operation Gratitude.

The workshop is free, but space is extremely limited, and registration is required, so be sure to sign up soon! Send email to NPMprograms@si.edu or call 202.633.5533 to participate.

And if the workshop fills up before your child gets in, I highly recommend a visit to the museum, anyway. I like to think of it as a local secret, since it’s often overlooked by tourists and overshadowed by its Smithsonian counterparts on the Mall. A few highlights are an old mail truck and train car to climb aboard, the Pony Express “trail” that takes you through its history, and an interactive exhibit that creates and stamps a cool postcard.

Afterward, head next door to Union Station to check out the Norwegian Train Display and grab a bite to eat.