About Us
The National Capital Radio & Television Museum operates in Bowie, Maryland, and also curates continuing exhibits elsewhere. Opened in 1999, the Museum is open to visitors three days a week.

The National Capital Radio & Television Museum is open to the public.
Admission is FREE.
Museum Hours:
Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Museum also can be opened for group and school tours by appointment.
Appointments are strongly encouraged.
Maximum Guests per Tour: 8
Please review our Covid-19 Policy to effectively prepare for your visit.
Current Exhibits
From Spark to Megabytes
Leading Up to WW2
The Rise of Television
Yesteryear’s Radio Station
Upcoming Events
- July 8, 2022
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Remembering Pick Temple
July 8, 2022 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Folk singer Lafayette Parker “Pick” Temple, Jr., once called “The First Washington TV Superstar,” was a D.C. area celebrity during the advent of television in the 1950s. After performing on radio briefly in the late 1940s, he transitioned to television, and for much of the 1950s appeared onscreen seven days a week on local television stations WTTG, WTOP, and WMAL.
Temple was best known for his children’s show, Pick Temple’s Giant Ranch, which was one of the top-rated programs in the D.C. area during its run from 1952 to 1961. Children - and plenty of adults - loved his stories and songs, his dog, Lady, and his pony, Piccolo. For fans, many of whom joined his “Pick Temple Giant Rangers Club,” Temple’s show remains a cherished childhood memory.
The exhibit, made possible by a generous donation of memorabilia from Pick Temple’s family, tells the story of this beloved, local television star. Visitors can view artifacts from Temple’s career, including his cowboy clothing and personalized guitar, and watch clips of his show on a vintage television set.
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Support the Museum
We encourage all organizations and individuals to engage and support the National Capital Radio & Television Museum with preserving the History of Broadcast for years to come. Please explore the ways you and your organization can and support the museum and help us tell the story of Broadcast around the world.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The National Capital Radio & Television Museum is thankful for our sponsors that allow us to continue to provide the public with the artifacts and stories that are part of the foundation of broadcast today. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please visit our corporate sponsorships page.


