The NMH Hotel – Family Kits to Explore & Experience

The National Museum of History presents “The NMH Hotel” Family Exploration Kit, a specially designed educational resource tailored for families with children. This kit invites participants to engage in an immersive, self-directed journey that encourages discovery, critical thinking, and creative interpretation of the museum’s collections.

Grounded in a playful, narrative-based approach, the experience transforms museum objects into puzzle elements, encouraging visitors to explore at their own pace while building meaningful connections with cultural heritage. By integrating hands-on learning with imaginative storytelling, the kit promotes intergenerational engagement and fosters a deeper appreciation of history through shared experiences.

Within the kit’s story framework, select artifacts are personified as characters with unique traits, and families are invited to join a roof ridge beast—a traditional ornamental creature found on the rooftops of classical Chinese architecture—on a journey through the museum. As the ridge beast “checks in” to the NMH Hotel, it encounters a series of artifact “residents,” each presenting clues, challenges, and opportunities for discovery.

Packaged in a suitcase-inspired box, the kit features a vibrant visual design incorporating collage, papercutting, and sketch-style illustrations. Its contents are carefully curated to support active observation and inquiry-based learning, and include:

•A full-color exploration guidebook

•Observation tools such as a telescope and mirror

•Colored markers for creative activities

•A set of guided prompts and challenges linked to key collection objects

•Supplementary content introducing the historical and cultural context of the featured artifacts

The Family Exploration Kit reflects the museum’s ongoing commitment to inclusive, accessible, and engaging learning experiences for all ages. By turning the museum into a site of adventure, imagination, and collaboration, this initiative encourages families to explore history not just as observers—but as participants in an unfolding story.