Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo will remain open to the public during the federal government shutdown by relying on prior-year funds, officials announced Thursday. The institution said it will continue operations through Saturday, October 11, 2025.
The decision means visitors to the National Mall and other sites across Washington will still be able to see exhibits, attend programs, and visit the zoo’s popular attractions in the days ahead, even as other federal agencies shutter or scale back services.
The Smithsonian typically draws millions of visitors each year to its 21 museums and galleries, plus the zoo, making it one of the most visible symbols of Washington’s cultural life. During past shutdowns, those doors have often closed once reserve funds were exhausted, sometimes leaving tourists facing locked gates at some of the capital’s most famous landmarks.
This time, Smithsonian leaders emphasized that the extension is temporary. Unless Congress restores funding or the institution identifies additional resources, closures could still occur after October 11.
The announcement comes as other cultural and federal sites weigh their own responses to the funding lapse. Some, like the Kennedy Center, are continuing with scheduled performances, while others — including the Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Garden — have already closed.
The Smithsonian’s ability to remain open at the start of a shutdown is not new. In 2013, the institution stayed open for nearly a week before shutting its doors when available funds ran out. During the 35-day partial government shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019 — the longest in U.S. history — Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo closed for more than three weeks, disrupting visits for hundreds of thousands of tourists during the winter holidays.
Leaders at the institution have since tried to prepare for future funding lapses by carrying over unobligated funds when possible, allowing them to keep doors open temporarily.
For now, Smithsonian visitors can expect business as usual. “We encourage the public to check our website regularly for any updates,” the institution said in a statement.
