This article was updated on November 14, 2025.
Now that the government shutdown has ended after a record-breaking 43 days, DC can finally get back to one of its favorite pastimes–going to the free Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo.
According to the Smithsonian, “all Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the zoo are closed” on Thursday, November 13. Most of the museums will open on a rolling basis through Monday, November 17.
Reopenings will begin on Friday, November 14, with the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
The National Zoo will reopen on Saturday, November 15 (although it, and other Smithsonians, may have “limited food service offerings.”) Also reopening Saturday: the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of African Art, and the National Museum of Asian Art. The National Museum of Natural History will open that day at noon.
As of press time, the remaining Smithsonian museums have not announced specific opening dates. Visitors can check the Smithsonian website for updates.
Though not part of the Smithsonian, The National Gallery—which does receive some federal funding—is slated to welcome guests to the West Building and Sculpture Garden on Friday during its normal business hours, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can also get snacks from limited menus during business hours at the Cascade Café, Espresso and Gelato Bar, Garden Café, and Pavilion Café. On Saturday, November 15, the entire National Gallery of Art complex, including the East Wing, will open its doors, and a new exhibit will begin: “The Stars We Do Not See,” an exhibition of Indigenous Australian art.
The US Botanic Garden and the Library of Congress, which were also closed during the shutdown, have already reopened.
Dara T. Mathis is a journalist and nonfiction writer who joined Washingtonian in Fall 2025 as an Editorial Fellow. A 2024 recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize, she resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
