Festival of the Building Arts
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Open up a toolbox of fun at the National Building Museum's Festival of the Building Arts in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18, 2004, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors can practice hammering and nail driving, create sculptures with nuts and bolts, build a city out of boxes, lay brick, thatch a roof, climb aboard construction equipment, help build a log cabin, and much more! A free hard hat will make youngsters part of the team and the action!
The free, one-day festival, held rain or shine, gives visitors of all ages the rare opportunity to participate in and observe traditional and contemporary building crafts through a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities. The Festival of the Building Arts is presented by The Associated General Contractors of America and This Old House Ventures, Inc., the official sponsor of family festivals at the National Building Museum.
As many as 30 master craftspeople will reveal the secrets of their trades and the building arts through demonstrations and hands-on activities suitable for adults and young people. Masons, woodworkers, plasterers, roofers, painters, plumbers, surveyors and others will share details about their unique skills as visitors work alongside them.
Families can watch craftspeople split logs for a cabin and build furniture from tree limbs, or they can climb aboard a concrete mixer while exploring a construction equipment "petting zoo." They can build a brick wall, create plaster casts, explore the intricacies of surveying, and try their hands at being a blacksmith. Visitors may also seek professional advice from roofers, faux finishers, woodworkers, plumbers and contractors, among others.
The Festival of the Building Arts is free and appropriate for all ages. A donation of $5 is suggested. No reservations are necessary for individuals. Scouts and other large groups should call (202) 272-2448 or e-mail scout@nbm.org to register. Details about the festival will be posted on the museum's web site at www.nbm.org.
The National Building Museum is America's premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction and urban planning. The museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about such topical issues as managing suburban growth, preserving landmarks, and revitalizing urban centers. The museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (202) 272-2448 or visit www.nbm.org.