It is intended to serve children up to age 12 and their families through interactive exhibits exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

The museum received a U.S. Congressional designation in 2003 when Congress identified a need for a nationally recognized cultural and educational institution specifically for children.

The museum participated in a wide variety of events, which reached hundreds of thousands of children and families, including the White House Easter Egg Roll, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play.

In November 2014, the museum's leadership announced that the institution would return to Washington, D.C.; the National Harbor location closed in January 2015.

After a long search for a new location, the museum's Board of Trustees identified an empty federal space adjacent to the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, DC, a short walk from the National Mall and the White House.