National Gallery of Art becomes first museum on DC’s National Mall to reopen

The National Gallery of Art on Monday became the first museum on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall to partially reopen since the coronavirus pandemic shut them down in March.

The museum opened the exhibits on the ground floor of its West Building for visitors with reservations. Social distancing and face masks for all people above 2 years old are mandatory.

The National Gallery is requiring visitors to obtain free passes to enter. The passes, which are released each Monday at 10 a.m. for the next week, provide a 30-minute entry window between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The museum closes at 4 p.m.

The available exhibits include 19th century and 20th century sculpture collections, impressionist still-life paintings and American furniture from 1700 to 1830, NBC Washington reported. 

Most museums have remained closed since the coronavirus took hold in the nation and its capital. D.C. has recorded 11,339 positive cases of COVID-19 and 579 deaths. As of Monday, the city has a seven-day average of 59 new COVID-19 cases per day, according to New York Times data. 

The Smithsonian Institution announced Monday the National Zoo and the Udvar-Hazy Center will reopen on Friday. The zoo’s hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the center’s will be from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ABC station WJLA reported.

The Smithsonian has not declared when its several museums on the National Mall will open back up.

The privately owned International Spy Museum and Museum of the Bible are both open, according to WJLA.