Smithsonian museums, National Zoo announce reopening dates

The Smithsonian Institution announced Friday that about half of its museums, along with the National Zoo, will reopen in May after shuttering in November because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Eight of the Smithsonian’s 19 locations in the Washington, D.C., area will open to the public next month but with COVID-19 restrictions in place. Guests will need to reserve a timed-entry pass, wear face mask and practice social distancing, Smithsonian officials said.

“We have a lot of signage keeping people moving in the right direction,” said Smithsonian COVID Response Coordinator Doug Hall. “All of the things are primarily geared toward social distancing, keeping people separate and of course cleaning at the end.”

As recently as last week, Smithsonian officials had said they were aiming to reopen in late May or early June.

Passes for the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., were made available Friday. The facility is scheduled to reopen May 5. 

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum are slated to open their doors on May 14.

The National Museum of American History, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Zoo will reopen on May 21.

The Smithsonian first closed its doors to visitors on March 14, 2020, based on guidance from health officials. The National Zoo and National Air and Space Museum reopened on July 24, with restrictions in place, before the Smithsonian closed its locations again on Nov. 23. They have not reopened since.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently announced that the city will ease some of its COVID-19 restrictions on May 1. At that time, museums will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.