Smithsonian Announces Modified Schedule for Museums and National Zoo Starting Tuesday, Jan. 18

January 14, 2022
News Release
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Smithsonian Castle

Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C., area and the National Zoo will adopt a new schedule starting Tuesday, Jan. 18, until further notice. This newly modified schedule follows a temporary schedule implemented through Monday, Jan. 17. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture will remain open five days a week, and most museums will be open on weekends.

The Smithsonian recently announced reduced days and hours of operation for its Washington museums for the period of Jan. 5¬–Jan. 17 in anticipation of unprecedented staff shortages due to COVID-19. Smithsonian leadership evaluated operations, staffing needs and public visitation patterns during these two weeks. This newly modified schedule reflects the continued need to reduce operations due to ongoing staff shortages while accommodating the needs of the public by opening more museums on weekends.

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, and the Smithsonian Institution Building (“The Castle”) will be open seven days a week. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will be open five days a week. Other museums in Washington and the National Zoo will adopt a Thursday–Sunday schedule. The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, the National Postal Museum and the Anacostia Community Museum will be closed to the public until further notice.

This modified schedule allows the Smithsonian to continue to reposition key staff across its museums as needed while offering the public more opportunities to visit its museums. Museums may have limited public entrances, and some exhibition spaces may be closed during this period. The public can find updated information on what to expect during their visit on museum websites. During the next few weeks, Smithsonian leadership will continue to assess the situation and staffing needs and adjust the schedule as needed.

The schedule going into effect Jan. 18 is as follows:

 

Schedule Beginning Jan. 18

 

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

National Museum of Natural History

Open

 

 

Open

Open

Open

Open

National Museum of American History

Open

Open

Open

   

Open

Open

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Open

   

Open

Open

Open

Open

National Air and Space Museum (National Mall)

Closed

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

Renwick Gallery

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

Smithsonian Institution Building "The Castle"

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Hirshhorn Museum

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

National Museum of the American Indian

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

National Museum of African Art

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

National Museum of Asian Art

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

National Postal Museum

Closed

Anacostia Community Museum

Closed

Arts and Industries Building

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

National Zoo

Open

 

 

 

Open

Open

Open

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, Va.)

Open

  Open

  Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

 

All museum hours, including an at-a-glance look at the days individual museums are open, are available at si.edu/visit/hours. Smithsonian museums continue to enforce several COVID-19 safety protocols, including requiring all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a mask during their visit. Information on the Smithsonian’s COVID-19 policies and updates to museums’ hours of operation are available at si.edu/visit.

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SI-13-2022

Solo Medios 

Linda St. Thomas

202-841-2517

stthomasl@si.edu