Sep
14

From the Secretary: Additional museums will open to the public Friday, Sept. 18

 

Reopening the Smithsonian banner with Castle in background

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that we will be reopening the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery to the public on Friday, September 18. We will also open the outdoor Plaza of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, although the museum itself will remain closed.

These locations will reopen with enhanced health and safety measures and will have reduced days or hours of operation. Visitors will need to reserve timed-entry passes to visit most locations.

The success of earlier reopenings at the National Zoo, the Udvar-Hazy Center, and Smithsonian Gardens along with the knowledge gained from our Staff as Visitors days has encouraged us to proceed with our phased reopening strategy.

Initially, some amenities may remain closed or be unavailable. Museum cafes and retail shops will not be open. All on-site public tours and events are temporarily suspended. Some exhibits, galleries, interactive displays, theaters or indoor spaces may be closed or operate at limited capacity. Detailed information for visitors is available on the museum websites.

As always, the health and safety of our staff and visitors is our paramount concern. We have implemented the following new procedures for visitors:

  • Requesting that all visitors who are sick or do not feel well stay home.
  • Requiring that visitors ages six and older wear face coverings during their visit. Face coverings are strongly recommended for visitors ages two and older, per CDC guidelines.
  • Closely monitoring and limiting the number of people in each museum. Most locations will require visitors to obtain a free timed-entry pass in advance of their visit. Beginning today, visitors can reserve passes online or by phone and select the desired date and time for their visit.
  • Implementing safe social distancing, including one-way paths and directional guidance where appropriate.
  • Providing hand sanitizing stations for visitors and conducting enhanced cleaning throughout all facilities.
  • Establishing maximum capacity for restrooms to accommodate safe social distancing.

Adjusting to our “new normal” has been challenging, but I am heartened that we are able to carefully bring the Smithsonian and all it has to offer back to the public, both traditionally and digitally.

The entire Smithsonian community has my continued gratitude for your patience and dedication, but we owe special thanks to the staff of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery as well as the Reopening Task Force, the New Normal Committee, and the COVID-19 Response Team who have all worked so hard to reach this point.

 

Regards,

Lonnie G. Bunch
Secretary

 

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Posted: 14 September 2020
About the Author:

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and is the first historian to be Secretary of the Institution.