Thanks to Yariv for passing on from NGA:
“The National Gallery of Art is temporarily closed and all programs are canceled until further notice. Check back for more updates.”
And an update from the Smithsonian National Zoo:
“Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are open today and will remain open through our scheduled closing time on Saturday, Oct. 11. (more…)
“National Museum of Women in the Arts, 13th Street and New York Avenue, NW Photo by John Mannarino”
From the National Museum of Women in the Arts:
“During the current federal government shutdown, the collection and exhibitions at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) remain open.
We recognize the challenges many in our community may face during this time. As a gesture of solidarity and support, for the duration of the shutdown, NMWA will offer free admission to any furloughed federal government employees. (more…)
photo by angela n.
From the Smithsonian:
“In the event of a government shutdown, our museums, research centers, and the National Zoo will remain open through at least Monday, Oct. 6. The Smithsonian will use prior-year funds still available to us to remain open. Visit si.edu for updates.”
Stay tuned.
photo courtesy National Gallery of Art
Good news from the National Gallery of Art:
“The National Gallery of Art’s popular National Gallery Nights after-hours program returns to the East Building in fall 2025 with three vibrant evenings of art, music, and creative exploration. Join us on the second Thursday of September, October, and November from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for a new season of free, themed events.
This season’s programs Back to School, Strike a Pose, and Art Under the Stars invite visitors to explore the National Gallery through the lens of self-expression, learning, and community. Enjoy after-hours access to exhibitions, hands-on activities, pop-up performances, and unexpected surprises throughout the night.
As with all National Gallery programs, (more…)
From the National Air and Space Museum:
“The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced the next phase of gallery openings at its flagship building in Washington, D.C. Five new exhibitions, the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater and the museum’s redesigned entrance on Jefferson Drive along the National Mall will open Monday, July 28. The project to renovate the entire museum began in 2018 and will culminate next year when the remaining galleries open July 1, 2026, the 50th anniversary of the museum in Washington and in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Thousands of artifacts will go back on display in the reopened galleries. Favorites such as the Spirit of St. Louis, the North American X-15, John Glenn’s Mercury Friendship 7 capsule, Apollo Lunar Module 2 and the touchable moon rock will be back on view. Several artifacts new to the building in Washington will include the Sopwith F.1 Camel, Virgin Galactic’s RocketMotorTwo, a Blue Origin New Shepard crew capsule mockup and a Goddard 1935 A series rocket.
Free timed-entry passes will still be required to visit the museum. Passes for the July 28 opening and beyond will be available on the museum’s website starting June 13. (more…)
photo by Tim Brown
From the White House:
“Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Truth and Sanity to American History
Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order restoring truth and sanity to American history by revitalizing key cultural institutions and reversing the spread of divisive ideology.
President Trump aims to ensure that the Smithsonian is an institution that sparks children’s imagination, celebrates American history and ingenuity, serves as a symbol to the world of American greatness, and makes America proud. (more…)
courtesy NBM
From The National Building Museum:
“The National Building Museum announced today that it will extend its Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania exhibition through Sunday, October 5, 2025.
This exhibition is a journey into the famed architect’s mind, articulating—for the first time—his broader creative vision. Presenting both realized and unrealized projects Wright designed for the Southwest Pennsylvania region from the 1930s through the 1950s, the exhibition examines how Wright’s vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
Realistic animated films, created by Skyline Ink Animators + Illustrators, provide a virtual exploration of five unrealized Wright projects for Southwestern Pennsylvania including: (more…)
From the National Building Museum:
“The National Building Museum announced today that it will extend its Capital Brutalism exhibition through Monday June 30, 2025. This exhibition has sparked intense media and public interest as it tells the story of how D.C.’s Brutalist architecture helped reshaped the city in the mid-century. Capital Brutalism explores the history, current state, and future of seven polarizing buildings and the WMATA Metro system in Washington, D.C. The exhibition is co-curated by Dr. Angela Person, associate professor of architecture at the University of Oklahoma, and architectural photographer Ty Cole.
Capital Brutalism was originally slated to conclude on February 17 but has been extended to June 30, 2025 due to popular demand.” (more…)
“Holocaust survivor Susan Warsinger speaking to visitors at the Museum during IHRD 2024”
From an email:
“On Monday, January 27, we are hosting a special day of activities for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is held on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This year marks 80 years since Nazi Germany’s most notorious camp was liberated. We are inviting you and others to meet Holocaust survivors, read the names of Holocaust victims, and light memorial candles.”
From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:
“The United Nations has designated January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. This year’s commemoration comes at a critical time, as the survivors, our best teachers, decline in number and we witness a global surge in antisemitism.
The Museum invites the public to remember the victims, honor the survivors and reaffirm the lessons of the Holocaust. Events that day will include: (more…)
photo courtesy DowntownDC BID
From a press release:
“The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), the National Building Museum, and Events DC are thrilled to announce the launch of the DowntownDC Holiday Skate Spectacular—a unique, free indoor skating experience that transforms the National Building Museum’s majestic Great Hall into a winter wonderland.
Running from December 16, 2024, through January 4, 2025, the event offers a holiday activity like no other. Guests can glide across a cutting-edge synthetic ice rink, open Thursday through Monday, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. (more…)