Eight D.C.-area institutions that had reopened to the public will again temporarily close their doors.
As coronavirus cases increase across the country, the Smithsonian will once again temporarily close eight of its Washington-area institutions on Monday. “The Institution’s top priority is to protect the health and safety of its visitors and staff,” the Smithsonian said in a statement. “We will use this time to reassess, monitor and explore additional risk-mitigation measures.” Seven museums and the National Zoo, which had all reopened by Sept.25, will be shutting again, the statement said. No reopening date was announced. The Smithsonian’s New York City museums, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center, have been closed to the public since March 14. The Smithsonian had gradually reopened eight of its Washington-area institutions this summer, beginning with the National Zoo and the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F.
