Places To Visit In D.C. Unaffected By The Government Shutdown

The ongoing federal government shutdown has hit many groups hard, including visitors to Washington, D.C.

Government buildings such as the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives closed when the shutdown began. The Smithsonian museums (including the National Zoo) and National Gallery of Art, which receive sizable federal appropriations to fund operations, eventually followed. And while the website of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum says it will remain open through Oct. 31, the logic of that wording implies it may have to close if the shutdown continues beyond then.

But guests planning to visit the nation’s capital in the coming weeks need not despair. While a government shutdown may make a trip to Washington look different than planned, it’s also no reason to cancel a hotel or plane reservation made months ago. Many of the open-air monuments around the National Mall remain accessible, even if the indoor portions (e.g., elevator to the top of the Washington Monument) are closed.

Moreover, Washington has interesting museums that do not receive government funding and therefore remain open during the shutdown. Unlike the Smithsonian museums, several do charge admission fees, but they also provide unique experiences away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas along the Mall. If you’re at a loss for what to do in Washington during the shutdown — or if you are looking for off-the-beaten-path places to visit once the government reopens — this list provides some suggestions for your exploring pleasure.

Hillwood Museum and Gardens: The former residence of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post (who spent winters in Palm Beach at her other home, Mar-A-Lago), the mansion features a wide array of Russian art and is famous for its collection of Faberge eggs. Located on a bluff above the city, its series of formal and informal gardens provides a wonderful location for a picnic any time of year, with views looking down at the Washington Monument and the rest of the city laid out below. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult suggested donation $20; complimentary admission to federal workers (with ID) during the shutdown. Metro: Van Ness (about one mile walk from Van Ness station).

International Spy Museum: Originally located in the Gallery Place neighborhood, the Spy Museum moved to a new building in L’Enfant Plaza just before Covid. Collections examine the history of espionage, including exhibits on the spycraft between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. (Washington has two related museums — but the National Cryptological Museum is closed due to the shutdown, and the museum located on the CIA campus is not open to the general public.) Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket costs vary due to dynamic “plan-ahead” pricing but average about $30-35 for adults; half-price admission to federal workers (with ID) during the shutdown. Metro: L’Enfant Plaza.

Museum of the Bible: I will confess that I have yet to visit this museum, preferring the free Smithsonian museums instead. But the museum has now made its entire first floor available to guests for free, hoping to entice guests to buy admission and explore exhibits on the upper floors examining the Bible’s history and cultural influence. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult non-member admission $34.99; admission half-price to federal workers (with ID) during the shutdown. Metro: Federal Center SW.

National Building Museum: This museum is housed in one of the grandest buildings in Washington: the Pension Building, constructed after the Civil War to facilitate payments to war veterans. Its vast atrium, frequently used for inaugural balls and other corporate galas, is open to the public for free, as is an architecturally themed gift shop featuring some of the best souvenirs in Washington. The museum itself contains a series of changing exhibits about architecture in Washington and throughout the world. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult non-member admission $10; complimentary admission to federal workers (with ID) during the shutdown. Metro: Judiciary Square.

The Phillips Collection: What began as an art collection housed in the home of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips has expanded into a museum complex comprising three buildings. While large, the complex still contains an intimacy that the National Gallery of Art lacks; visitors can easily peruse all the museum’s exhibits in a morning or afternoon. With its focus on Impressionist and modern art, the Phillips features a gallery of paintings by Mark Rothko. The Rothko Room, designed in conjunction with the artist himself, provides an intimate space for quiet contemplation among the Russian-born artist’s color-saturated works. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult non-member admission $20; $10 discount for federal employees (with ID) during the shutdown. Metro: Dupont Circle.

Washington National Cathedral: The cavernous Gothic structure, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, famously features a moon rock and a Darth Vader figure among its gargoyles. The building, the nation’s second-largest church, is generally open for tours when not in use for religious services, and it features frequent organ and other musical concerts. But as someone who lived near the cathedral for several years, its most relaxing feature sits nearby: The Bishop’s Garden provides a delightful place to read and appreciate the serenity of nature framed by this magnificent building. Generally open to tours from Monday through Saturday; check the website for specific hours. Self-guided tour with digital guide and audio tour $17. Metro: Tenleytown or Woodley Park (about a mile walk from either stop).

Folger Theatre: This museum, located on Capitol Hill next to the Library of Congress, reopened last year following a multi-year renovation that expanded its underground exhibit space. The Folger features an Elizabethan-era theatre that performs Shakespearean and contemporary works, the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s First Folios, and permanent and changing exhibits on “The Bard” and the Elizabethan era. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. Friday. Admission by donation. Metro: Union Station or Capitol South.