They come from every conceivable U.S. state and countries worldwide. But right about now, thousands of tourists in D.C. are frustrated by the federal government shutdown. The congressional impasse has forced national monuments and popular tourist destinations to be off limits to all visitors, who are stunned by the closures.
The DowntownDC BID is disappointed that our major, government-run museums located in the BID area—the National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Avenue) and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery (8th and F streets)—are shuttered. Together, they attracted more than 1.9 million visitors last year.
But all is not lost. Downtown D.C. has a diverse array of destinations, ranging from privately-operated museums and theaters to other entertainment and cultural venues that can keep tourists and others occupied for days.
Among the major venues open here:
- The Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) – the interactive news and journalism museum
- Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street) –the walking tour, Investigation: Detective McDevitt, will continue, and The Center for Education and Leadership, owned and operated by the Ford’s Theatre Society, will remain open for daytime visits from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The historic site (Ford’s Theatre, Museum and Petersen House) will be closed, and performances of The Laramie Project are canceled through Tuesday, Oct. 8. However, the theatre, operated through a public-private partnership between the Society and the National Park Service, has added two free performances of the production at First Congregational United Church of Christ (945 G Street) tonight and Oct. 8. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. shows will be available at the church each evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.
- National Building Museum (401 F Street) – tells the story of architecture, engineering and design. The museum will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 10 for a symposium unrelated to the shutdown.
- International Spy Museum (800 F Street) – the nation’s only public museum solely dedicated to espionage
- U.S. Navy Memorial (701 Pennsylvania Avenue) – honoring the men and women of the sea services; its Heritage Center offers interactive exhibits and a great gift shop.
- National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Avenue) – the world’s only major museum dedicated to recognizing women’s creative contributions
- Marian Koshland Science Museum (525 E Street) – features state-of-the-art exhibitions highlighting the science behind today’s headlines and affecting daily lives
- National Law Enforcement Memorial (E and 5th streets) – honors the more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout history; the Visitors Center and Store is located at the corner of 7th and D streets.
- Crime and Punishment Museum – dedicated to the history of criminology and penology in the United States
- Madame Tussauds – get up close and personal with the U.S. presidents in the Presidents’ Gallery and visit the Civil Rights Room and more
Many destinations remaining open are mostly privately-operated, with most requiring a fee for entry. Others, such as the IDB Cultural Center (1300 New York Avenue), Pepco Edison Place Gallery (702 8th Street) and exhibits at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1200 New York Avenue) are free.
We invite visitors, workers and residents to tap into the treasure trove of cultural, educational and entertainment venues that are available in Downtown. There’s a lot to see, and even more to do.