A new and energetic installation is drawing attention at one of Washington DC’s most prominent museums. The National Building Museum has launched its latest summer experience titled Momentum Park(our), offering visitors of all ages a chance to explore the physical and mental discipline of parkour within a unique and educational environment. Open through July 20, this temporary exhibit invites both children and adults to jump, balance, climb, and move in new ways that explore their relationship with the built environment around them.
According to the museum’s deputy director, the annual summer exhibit is designed to help visitors experience architecture and movement in an active way. The idea is to prompt people to think differently about how they interact with space, particularly the structures they pass through daily. Rather than simply looking at buildings, Momentum Park(our) encourages them to move within, around, and through simulated urban obstacles, embracing concepts such as gravity, balance, and motion in real time.
The installation was created by the team from American Parkour, led by Mark Toorock, a well-known figure in the U.S. parkour community. The custom-designed training area includes a dedicated zone for children and a more challenging course for older or more advanced participants. Visitors are welcome to test their skills in a safe, controlled setting while exploring what Toorock describes as not just a physical but a mental discipline—one that pushes individuals just beyond their comfort zones.
Momentum Park(our) goes beyond simply providing a fun climbing space. It also integrates educational features, including interactive science stations that teach core principles like momentum, acceleration, and kinetic energy. These hands-on exhibits aim to make physics and motion more accessible, especially for young learners. Weekend programming brings in professional athletes for live parkour demonstrations, coaching sessions, and informal conversations where guests can ask questions and learn directly from experts.
Families visiting the exhibit can take advantage of special workshops designed for children, which combine movement with structured learning. For adults, there’s even a Sip and Flip Happy Hour, offering a playful way to unwind while engaging with the exhibit in a more social context.
Participation requires the purchase of a Parkour Ticket, which is an additional $5 on top of regular museum admission. Museum officials recommend that all participants wear athletic shoes with rubber soles to ensure safe movement on the course. The museum emphasizes inclusivity and encourages guests of all fitness levels to give parkour a try, whether they're seasoned athletes or total beginners.
The parkour exhibit also highlights DC's growing engagement with alternative physical education. According to Toorock, every seventh grader in DC public schools participates in parkour as part of their physical education curriculum, making Washington DC the first city in the country to adopt parkour into its school programs on a public scale.
As summer unfolds, Momentum Park(our) offers a dynamic blend of physical activity, architectural awareness, and STEM-based learning all under one roof. It represents a creative step forward for how museums can engage communities not just with passive exhibits, but with active, immersive experiences that challenge both body and mind. From young kids discovering movement for the first time to adults rediscovering their sense of agility, the installation serves as a reminder that architecture isn’t just something we build—it’s something we move through every day.
Whether you're a DC local, a summer tourist, or a family looking for a unique indoor activity, Momentum Park(our) at the National Building Museum is a timely and meaningful way to engage with space, design, and your own sense of movement before the exhibit closes on July 20.
