Smithsonian Museums: Open Or Closed On Independence Day?

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artifacts and specimens. Most of its museums are located in the Washington, D.C. area, with two in New York City. All Washington, D.C.–area museums and the American Indian Museum in New York are open every day of the year except December 25. The Cooper Hewitt museum in New York is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, yes, the Smithsonian museums will be open on Independence Day.

Smithsonian museums are open every day except Christmas Day

The Smithsonian Institution is a group of museums, galleries, and a zoo, with most of its museums located in the Washington, D.C., area and two in New York City. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artifacts and specimens.

The Smithsonian museums are open every day of the year except for Christmas Day. This includes all Washington, D.C.–area museums and the American Indian Museum in New York, which are open 364 days a year. The Cooper Hewitt museum in New York is also closed on Thanksgiving in addition to Christmas Day.

The Smithsonian museums offer a range of exhibitions and experiences for visitors. For example, the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., features an exhibition called "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden," which includes Thomas Jefferson's portable desk on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. The National Museum of African American History and Culture showcases an exhibit dedicated to President Barack Obama as the nation's first Black president.

The Smithsonian museums also have a rich history of participating in inaugurations since the 1800s. President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural ball was held in what is now the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. The Smithsonian museums were also open during the 2017 Presidential Inauguration, with the exception of the National Museum of the American Indian and the Renwick Gallery due to their proximity to secure areas.

In addition to its museums, the Smithsonian Institution also offers a Virtual Visitor Center, where visitors can connect with expert volunteers to plan their visit and create a personalized list of exhibitions and museums to explore.

The Cooper Hewitt museum in New York is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artefacts and specimens. Most of the museums are located in the Washington, D.C., area, with two in New York City. The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, is one of these two museums in New York City.

The Cooper Hewitt museum is located at 2 East 91st St, New York, NY 10128. The museum is open daily, and visitors can explore the collection and learn about the transformative role of design across history. The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden is also open to the public and is free to enter. It features a reimagined rockery, cherry trees and rhododendrons, and a sloped walkway leading to a seating area. The garden can be accessed through a striking canopy entrance on 90th Street, between 5th Ave and Madison Ave.

The Cooper Hewitt is the only Smithsonian museum that charges admission fees. It is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, when it is closed. The museum's garden, shop, and cafe are typically open through September 2. However, at the time of writing, the galleries are temporarily closed for the installation of a new exhibition, "Making Home," which opens on November 2.

The other Smithsonian museum in New York City is the National Museum of the American Indian, which is located at One Bowling Green, New York, NY. This museum, along with all the Washington, D.C.-area museums, is open every day of the year except December 25th.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is closed on Tuesdays

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artifacts and specimens. It comprises multiple museums and over 250 exhibitions. Most of the museums are located in the Washington, D.C. area, with two in New York City.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the Smithsonian's museums located in Washington, D.C. It is open to the public six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. The museum's hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays. This closure day is consistent each week, except for Federal Holidays, when the museum opens at 10:00 a.m. instead of the usual Monday hours. The museum is also closed on December 25th.

On Tuesdays, visitors can explore other Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C. area, such as the National Museum of American History, the Air and Space Museum, or the American Indian Museum. These museums offer a range of exhibitions and artifacts that showcase different aspects of history, culture, and science.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a unique institution dedicated to exploring the richness and diversity of the African American experience in the United States. It houses a diverse collection of artifacts, including Harriet Tubman's hymnal, Nat Turner's bible, a plantation cabin from South Carolina, and Chuck Berry's red Cadillac convertible. The museum also features works by renowned artists such as Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Henry O. Tanner.

By being closed on Tuesdays, the museum ensures that visitors can plan their trips accordingly and have a more enjoyable experience during its open days.

The National Museum of American History is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays

The Smithsonian Institution is home to multiple museums, galleries, and a zoo. The National Museum of American History is part of this group and is usually open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm. However, it is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This schedule may change due to special events, such as Inauguration Day or Independence Day celebrations.

On Inauguration Day in 2017, the museum opened its doors early at 8:30 am, providing access to the Jazz Café and restrooms near the Constitution Avenue entrance. The exhibitions opened at the standard time of 10 am. The museum also broadcast the swearing-in ceremony and the President's speech live at its Demonstration Stage.

The museum has also closed on other occasions, such as during NATO meetings in Washington, D.C. On July 9, 2024, both the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture were closed due to these meetings.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artifacts and specimens. It has multiple museums and over 250 exhibitions. Most of the museums are located in the Washington, D.C. area, with two in New York City. The standard hours for the museums are 10 am to 5:30 pm, and admission is free for all locations in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Smithsonian has a long history of participating in inaugurations, dating back to the 1800s. It offers a rich array of exhibitions related to the presidency, such as "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden" and "The First Ladies." These exhibitions showcase significant objects, videos, and interactive displays that explore the personal, public, ceremonial, and executive actions of the presidents and the role of the First Ladies.

The National Museum of Natural History is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, with approximately 157 million artefacts and specimens. It comprises multiple museums and over 250 exhibitions. The National Museum of Natural History is one of the Smithsonian Institution's museums.

The National Museum of Natural History is located in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall. It is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except on Mondays and Tuesdays and December 25th. The museum's green dome and immense size, comparable to 18 football fields, are its signatures. It houses over 140 million natural science specimens and cultural artefacts.

The museum's regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended hours in spring and summer until 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, and it is conveniently accessible via public transportation. However, public parking is limited, although spaces are available for visitors with disabilities.

The National Museum of Natural History has a diverse range of exhibits, including the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, which displays the infamous Hope Diamond. The museum also features an insect zoo and The Sant Ocean Hall, with a life-size replica of a North Atlantic right whale.

The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils, with its Deep Time theme, is a highlight of the museum. Spanning 31,000 square feet, this exhibit showcases Earth's history over billions of years, providing a captivating and educational experience for visitors.

The National Museum of Natural History's closing days are Mondays and Tuesdays, with the exception of federal holidays, when it is open from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays. It is also closed on December 25th.

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