The National Institute of Standards and Technology will open two of its Gaithersburg research facilities for an evening public tour on Aug. 19, part of the agency’s 125th-anniversary program.

The event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. EDT at NIST’s Administration Building, 100 Bureau Drive. Registration closes Aug. 12, and NIST says the limited spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Graphic shows registration closes Aug. 12 and the NIST tour runs Aug. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The registration deadline falls one week before the Aug. 19 evening tour.Boho News graphic from cited primary dataView source

Visitors must select one of two destinations when registering. The Million Pounds-Force Deadweight Machine calibrates sensors used to measure very large forces, including the thrust of aircraft engines and loads on structures.

The second option is the NanoFab at NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, where researchers use semiconductor-processing and characterization equipment to build and study technologies at very small scales.

The tour is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents because of site-entry requirements. NIST says the program is most appropriate for high-school age and older and that children under 12 will not be admitted.

Graphic lists the Million Pounds-Force machine and NanoFab as the two tour choices.
Registrants must choose between two laboratory visits.Boho News graphic from cited primary dataView source

Permanent residents must bring an unexpired green card. U.S. citizens using a state-issued identification card must present a REAL ID-compliant credential or another accepted federal photo ID, such as a passport or passport card. Digital copies and screenshots are not accepted.

The two facilities show opposite ends of the measurement scale: one creates precisely known forces approaching one million pounds, while the other supports fabrication and measurement at the nanoscale. Both are used to establish traceable measurements that other laboratories and industries can rely on.

NIST was founded in 1901 as the National Bureau of Standards. The anniversary program includes lectures, tours and partnerships throughout 2026; the Aug. 19 event is one stop in that broader schedule.

Registration is not a guarantee of entry if required identification is missing. Prospective visitors should use NIST’s official event page for the current capacity and access instructions before traveling.