Team of four young adults sets up an antenna on a city rooftop. One of them raises a fist in the air

The Smithsonian Amateur Radio Group installs an antenna on the roof of the Capitol Gallery in 2019. (Credit: Smithsonian Institution)

Join the Smithsonian Amateur Radio Group, for a 24-hour broadcast at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)!

On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from the great outdoors, for an event known as ARRL Field Day. This year, the Smithsonian Amateur Radio Group (“ham” radio) are celebrating ARRL Field Day by doing a 24-hour broadcast from SERC’s Contee Mansion Ruins.

ARRL Field Day is a picnic, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN! The broadcast will run from 2pm Saturday through 2pm Sunday. Visitors will be able to participate in the broadcast during SERC’s normal visiting hours (8:00am-5:30pm). We’ll be open both Saturday and Sunday, for this weekend only. For more details, visit https://serc.si.edu/event/smithsonian-amateur-radio-group-field-day.