NIST's 125th Birthday Open House: How We Make Time (and More!) For You

NIST is turning 125 this year! To celebrate, NIST is excited to invite you to our open house this October 16th, 2026, from 3:00pm – 6:00pm at 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305. Please join us for a talk about how we keep time, along with displays and demos of our science and history. Learn about how NIST came to be and how we came to Boulder.

Featured lecture: A Short History of Time -- John Lowe, Scientist Emeritus with the Time and Frequency Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

What is time? And how do we define and measure it?

This presentation starts with the history and the development of calendars. Why the cosmic dance of the solar system makes things difficult and how our modern calendar evolved from the Sumerians to the Egyptians, then the Romans and finally a Pope. Then we will turn our discussion to the history of clock making and timekeeping and its importance to society. We’ll conclude the presentation by reviewing modern timekeeping techniques and how we all depend on its dissemination.

Parking onsite is limited, and all vehicles entering campus will need to be inspected. We encourage attendees to take public transportation, walk or bike to our campus. Weapons, drugs and alcohol are prohibited on the NIST campus.

For security reasons, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can attend this event. No attendees under 10 years old. Attendees 18 years and old must show valid ID to enter campus. All attendees must register here: https://events.nist.gov/profile/45430