WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- The National Building Museum has now become home to an indoor ice rink. However, the ice used for it is not frozen water. Skaters glided across a synthetic surface Monday for the rink's first day of attraction. "This one is actually more slippery, and it's more icy," 10-year-old Mia Thomas said. Automatic train operations return to Metro’s Red Line The Office of the Mayor, Events DC, Downtown DC and the Downtown DC Business Improvement District teamed up to offer the artificial ice as part of the Downtown DC Holiday Skate Spectacular. "The building museum is sort of known for doing these really big, larger-than-life activations and fun things here," said Downtown DC Business Improvement District President and CEO Gerren Price. "We sort of thought it was a really crazy idea that could just work." This is the first time the museum has housed an ice rink, as it drew visitors from across the DMV. Rich Hammonds and her youngest child, Eli, drove from Woodbridge, Va. to visit the museum. "My youngest baby, he has the day off. I said 'well let me bring him here to do something.' But he's not feeling it, but we tried," Hammonds said. Celebrate the ‘Small-idays’ with the Loudoun County animal shelter Organizers also said they hope the ice rink attracts more people downtown. "That was good and it was fun," Hammonds said. "And I'm coming back" Skating is free to the public, with a $5 rental fee for skates. The ice rink is open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday through Jan. 4.