Museums and Cultural Institutions Affected by the Government Shutdown

Can't decide what to do about healthcare? Forbid everyone from looking at an Edward Hopper.

Oct 05, 2013
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Complex Original

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Image via Complex Original

There's a lot of controversy and anxiety surrounding the government shutdown. Whatever your stance is, it's pretty unfortunate that the government had to also shut down a ton of federally funded museums. We can't imagine how frustrated tourists in Washington D.C. (including the Greek Prime Minister) are feeling when they show up to these incredible, free museums and find out that they're all closed. Sadly, the government's indecision negatively affects the institutions (and their employees) that house and preserve American culture and history.

In an effort to support the museums, and the people who have worked so hard for them, we decided to feature the Museums and Cultural Institutions Affected by the Government Shutdown. They might be closed for now, but we're hoping that this changes so we can see and share their upcoming exhibitions and impressive permanent collections. 

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National Zoological Park

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Permanent collections: Animals from all around the globe
Number of animals: 2,000+

Smithsonian Castle

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Permanent collections: Smithsonian Information Center and Smithsonian Historical Exhibits

Anacostia Community Museum

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Permanent collections: Archives and art based on community life
Number of pieces in collection: 50,000+ photographs

African American History and Culture Museum

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Permanent collections: Art and artifacts of the African American experience
Number of pieces in collection: 18,000+

Holocaust Museum

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Permanent collections: Archived materials from the Third Reich up to contemporary testimonials of the Holocaust
Number of pieces in collection: 230,315+
Upcoming exhibitions: "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race" (Traveling Exhibition: October 3, 2013 - December, 2015)

National Air and Space Museum

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Permanent collections: Historic aircraft and space artifacts
Number of pieces in collection: 60,000+

National Postal Museum

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Permanent collections: U.S. and International Stamps
Number of pieces in collection:30,000+ sheets
Upcoming exhibition: "Pacific Exchange: China & U.S. Mail" (March 6, 2014 - January 4, 2015)

National Museum of the American Indian

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Permanent collections: Native American arts and artifacts
Number of pieces in collection: 825,000
Upcoming exhibitions: "Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison" (October 05, 2013–February 23, 2014)

National Museum of Natural History

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Permanent collections: Anthropological and Scientific Artifacts
Number of pieces in collection: 126 Million+
Upcoming exhibition: "Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation" (Winter 2013 TBA)

National Museum of American History

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Permanent collections: American Artifacts
Number of pieces in collection: 3 Million+
Upcoming exhibitions: "Artifact Walls - The Birth of Biotech" (October 24, 2013 - ), "Artifact Walls - Puppetry in America" (December 13, 2013 - March 28, 2014)

National Gallery of Art

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Permanent collections: Renaissance to Contemporary art
Number of pieces in collection: 120,000+
Upcoming exhibitions: "Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections" (October 6, 2013 – March 2, 2014), "Garry Winogrand" (March 2 – June 8, 2014)

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

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Permanent collections: Historic and Contemporary Design
Number of pieces in collection: 30,000+
Upcoming exhibition: "Graphic Design: Now in Production" (Oct. 18, 2013–Feb. 23, 2014 at Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, N.C.; March 28, 2014-Aug. 10, 2014 at Museum of Art at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, R.I.)

Sackler Gallery

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Permanent collections: Asian Contemporary art from and International loan exhibitions
Number of pieces in collection: 11,000+
Upcoming exhibitions: "Yoga: The Art of Transformation" (May 28, 2013 – May 28, 2014), "Strange and Wondrous: Prints of India from the Robert J. Del Bontà Collection" (October 19, 2013–January 5, 2014)

The Renwick Gallery

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Permanent collections: Craft and Decorative Art
Upcoming exhibition: "A Measure of the Earth: The Cole-Ware Collection of American Baskets" (October 4, 2013 – December 8, 2013)

Smithsonian American Art Museum

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Permanent collections: 17th century to contemporary American Art
Number of artists in collection: 7,000+
Upcoming exhibitions: "Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art" (October 25, 2013 – March 2, 2014), "Ralph Fasanella: Lest We Forget" (May 2, 2014 – August 3, 2014)

The National Portrait Gallery

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Permanent collections: 15th century to 20th century American Art
Upcoming exhibitions: "Dancing the Dream " (October 4, 2013 - July 13, 2014 ), "American Cool" (February 7, 2014 - September 7, 2014)

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

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Permanent collections: Modern to Contemporary Art
Number of pieces in collection: 5,000+
Upcoming exhibition: "Damage Control: Art and Destruction since 1950" (October 24, 2013 – February 9, 2014)

Freer Gallery of Art

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Permanent collections: American and Eastern Art
Number of pieces in collection: 11,000+
Upcoming exhibition: "The Nile and Ancient Egypt" (December 7, 2013 - )

National Museum of African Art

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Permanent collections: The entire timeline of African art
Number of pieces in collection: 525+
Upcoming exhibition: "Africa Re-Viewed: The Photographic Legacy of Eliot Elisofon" (November 7, 2013 - March 2, 2014)

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