The National Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit, “Placita Mágica,” allows children to explore and play in a traditional Mexican village without ever having to leave the the States.

Alex Galiatsatos, communications and digital manager for the National Children’s Museum, said the exhibit space is “adorned in vibrant decorations, from cityscapes and archways to marigolds and piñatas!”

This “Placita Mágica”, or “Magical Little Town Square,” is said to be an immersive cultural exhibit celebrating Mexican customs through science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“Imagine a water fountain that explores the physics of airflow, a projector that allows you to make your own festive decorative ‘papel picado’ [cut paper banners] and rotating tables where you can play and experiment with your own spinning top designs,” Mr. Galiatsatos said of the exhibit.

Placita Mágica was created in partnership with the Mexican Embassy and the Mexican hot-chocolate company Abuelita, and is designed after a traditional Mexican town square.

The Children’s Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary with this “reimagined homage” to a beloved Mexican exhibit from the original Capital Children’s Museum.

The original exhibit was created in partnership with the Mexican government and was opened in 1979, when the ribbon was cut by first lady Rosalynn Carter.

“Generations of Washingtonians remember that exhibit, and in particular, programs that were based out of “La Abuelita” storefront, including Mexican hot chocolate making and tortilla pressing,” Mr. Galiatsatos said.

The original exhibit also gave kids the chance to learn traditional Mexican crafts like wood carving, embroidery and papier-mâché.

According to Mr. Galiatsatos, the Children’s Museum still hears stories today about the original Mexico exhibit, which is why they found Placita Mágica to be the perfect way to commemorate the museum’s founding.

The National Children’s Museum was founded in 1974, first as the Children’s Museum of Inquiry and Discovery and later as the Capital Children’s Museum, according to museum officials.

Placita Mágica is a “symbol of community and togetherness” celebrating everyone who has played a role in the Museum’s 50-year legacy, according to Mr. Galiatsatos.

“Our mission is to inspire children to care about and change the world, and global cultural education in the nation’s capital is a core piece of that work,” Mr. Galiatsatos said.

Placita Mágica will run through Jan. 3, 2025.