The U.S. may have entered its second week of a government shutdown, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going on in the nation’s capital. Many local businesses are continuing their operations as usual, and while the Smithsonian museums will remain closed for the remainder of the shutdown, there are still plenty of independently-operated museums and attractions that remain open to the public.
Destination DC has started its “DC is Open” campaign to encourage travel to Washington, D.C., as well as to provide resources to people whose plans may have been interrupted by the shutdown. In addition to information on the specifics of a government shutdown and how federally-run institutions are affected by it, DC is Open also includes lists of local businesses and attractions that are still open during the shutdown as well as alternatives for places that are currently closed.
Some of the child-friendly museums that will remain open during the shutdown include Planet Word, the International Spy Museum, the National Children’s Museum and the National Building Museum. Many outdoor memorials and landmarks continue to be open to the public, such as the National WWI Memorial and the African American Civil War Memorial.
For more information, visit washington.org/dcisopen.
