The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 Family Guide
Our family guide booklet is here to help you navigate important highlights of the exhibition as well as help young people understand the most fundamental elements of the exhibition’s narrative through exploration of the space and conversation with their adults. See specific artifacts, images, text panels, and video in each of the five sections of the exhibition. Through probing questions and engaging activities, the whole family is invited to explore and make meaning of the exhibition together. While graphic and violent content appears throughout the galleries, this guide will help families make choices about which content they feel it’s important to view or not.
The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 Family Guide is available for free. Download here or grab a hard copy at the exhibition entrance at the Museum. Recommended for ages 12 and up
Family Programs
Join us for captivating programs, activities, and story times that engage the whole family. In addition to these programs, check out our online family calendar for new programs added throughout the exhibition, including an exploration of U.S. soldier and veteran experiences and Vietnamese culinary and language story times.
All programs are free with Museum Admission. Please be aware of age recommendations—due to the nature of the exhibition, there is some upsetting content.
Living History: Vietnam War Home Front/War Front Touch Table
Select weekends beginning Saturday and Sunday, December 2-3, 2017, 12 pm - 3 pm
Free with Museum Admission
Recommended for all ages
Travel back in time on select weekends throughout the run of the exhibition with a new Living History program. Explore a “touch table” of objects that can be safely handled with our staff to learn about life on the home and war fronts from 1945 to 1975. Learn more >
Reading into History Book Club: Special Author Appearance
Thanhha Lai and Inside Out & Back Again
Sunday, November 12, 2 pm
Recommended for ages 9–12 and their adults
This Veterans Day Weekend, we’re looking at the history of the Vietnam War through Thanhha Lai’s National Book Award-winning novel in verse about a young girl’s transition from Vietnam to Alabama after the fall of Saigon. Author Lai joins us to discuss her book and meet families, then we’ll explore our exhibition The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 on a family friendly mini-tour. Learn more >
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend: MLK Jr. and the Vietnam War
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, January 13 – 15
Recommended for ages 9 and up
Explore this often untold history in a series of holiday weekend events. On Saturday, join us for a discussion on Dr. King's groundbreaking speech, Beyond Vietnam, between speech organizer Reverend Richard Fernandez and acclaimed author Tonya Bolden, author of M.L.K. Journey of a King. On Sunday, join a special Reading into History Family Book Club meeting to discuss Russell Freedman’s Vietnam: A History of the War. On Monday in a special story time, listen to Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam, Walter Dean Myers’ children’s story of a black Vietnam solider.
Image: National Archives and Records Administration
Reading into History Family Book Club
Vietnam: A History of the War by Russell Freedman
Sunday, January 14, 2 pm
Recommended for ages 9–12
Join us to discuss author Russell Freedman’s new and comprehensive work of non-fiction for middle readers about this tumultuous era. After discussion, we’ll explore part of the exhibition The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 on an age-appropriate guided tour. Learn more >
The Kid Who Helped Leak the Pentagon Papers: Robert Ellsberg and Steve Sheinkin in Conversation
Saturday, February 3, 2 pm
Recommended for ages 9+
Steve Sheinkin, acclaimed author of National Book Award Finalist Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, talks with Robert Ellsberg who, at age 13, helped his father photocopy the Pentagon Papers in order to leak them to the public. Using footage from the PBS POV documentary The Most Dangerous Man in America, Sheinkin and Ellsberg help families understand one of the most critical events of the 20th century—and a kid's role in it! Q&A and book signing to follow. Advance reservations not required but strongly recommended. Learn more >
Land Mine Awareness featuring Legacies of War
Sunday, April 8, 2 pm
Recommend for ages 10+
In honor of United Nations’ International Mine Awareness Day, join Legacies of War for a presentation and discussion on unexploded land mines from Vietnam War-era bombing and how they continue to leave an impact on people of the former war fronts. Learn more >
Visit our family programs calendar throughout the exhibition for new program listings, including ones on veterans experiences and Vietnamese culture and storytelling.
