Shutdown To Close DC Museums And Galleries By Midweek

[appalachiablue]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Museums and galleries popular with visitors and locals in the nation's capital will close starting midweek if the partial shutdown of the federal government drags on. So will the National Zoo and a lively ice rink near the National Mall.

The attractions have stayed open by using unspent funds, but they are about to run out of that money.

Museums and galleries under the Smithsonian Institution umbrella will close starting Jan. 2, the Smithsonian said on its website.

That includes the zoo, as well as the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History, and several galleries, including the National Portrait Gallery, with its paintings of former presidents. Smithsonian facilities are open on Jan. 1.


Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/shutdown-to-close-dc-museums-and-galleries-by-midweek/ar-BBRxhla?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

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National parks are also impacted, although unevenly. Some are accessible with basic staff, others are open with money from states or charitable groups, and some are locked off.




People skate on the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, Dec. 27, 2018, as a partial government shutdown continues in Washington. The museum and the skate rink will be closed to the public after January 2 as a result of the shutdown if it continues into the new year. Behind the rink is the National Archives, which is closed due to the shutdown.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I went to the National Gallery of Art on Thursday.

The Corot exhibit closes on December 31. I made sure to visit the room with the half-dozen van Goghs.

{edited, Sunday, 9:09 a.m.: "van Gogh," not "Van Gogh"}

Maybe they'll let me check one out until they reopen.

I also went through the Gordon Parks exhibit.

The building (the original one) was crowded.

The last half of December is always the best time to visit DC. The museums are all decorated with Christmas trees and poinsettias. Before Christmas, I got to the Botanic Garden and the Library of Congress. I still have to get to the lobby of the Willard Hotel. I won't be getting to the national Christmas tree this year.

I made it to the National Archives on December 14, the day before Bill of Rights Day.

Get there while you can.

[appalachiablue]

4. DC classics, favs. Borrow a Van Gogh from NGA, maybe a print lol

US Botanic Garden, holiday exhibit Wash. DC.





George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (Landsdowne portrait) 1796. (Aka 'Geo. Washington on ice skates' by visitors. Lol)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Why not an original? It's not as if they'll need it right away. NT

[appalachiablue]

8. Sure thing, NGA has 10 paintings by Van Gogh and

also works of his on paper. I love botanicals and florals, so his 'Roses' would be my first request.




The Willard Hotel, holiday decorations, Wash. DC.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. "Self-Portrait," a few feet away, is my choice. I can pick it up

whenever it's convenient for them. I might have to reposition a calendar and a poster or two in my cubicle, but I'll find room for it.

Vincent van Gogh
Dutch, 1853 - 1890
Self-Portrait
1889

It has been on loan before, so it's not as if they haven't done this already:

Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait," 1889, on Loan from the National Gallery of Art, Washington

DECEMBER 7, 2012 – MARCH 4, 2013

As part of the exchange series that brought Raphael’s Small Cowper Madonna and Vermeer’s A Lady Writing to the Norton Simon Museum, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., will once again lend a monumental work. This December the Museum welcomes Vincent van Gogh’s hauntingly compelling Self-Portrait, produced in late August 1889, less than a year before his untimely death at age 37, in July 1890.

The little old ladies in Pasadena got to see it. All I have to do is to carry it across Pennsylvania Avenue. Easy-peasy.

I hope I can get to the Willard on Monday. Have you ever seen the lobby at Christmas?

All is calm and all is bright at the Willard. (Photo Credit: IG/douglaspatch)

Link to tweet

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. There were dozens of snowflakes suspended from strings in the

rotunda of the National Gallery of Art this year. That's such a great place at Christmas.

https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/visit/tours%20and%20guides/PDFs/nga-map-english.pdf

If I don't get back to you in the next few days, Happy New Year.

[appalachiablue]

16. NGA's Main/West Bldg. is a classic, what a haven for appreciating

art and finding solace and beauty in the city. Happy New Year 2019.

[AJT]

2. Something popped into my head. Could 45 use this shutdown as an excuse

to start selling off federal parks and museums?

[appalachiablue]

3. Put up ritzy, new condos, a glam resort & golf course on the Natl. Mall!

Stranger things have happened, but don't think the possibility you raise hasn't been probed, for decades.

Here's hoping the capital remains dedicated to the nation and American people for many more generations.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Independence Mall here in Philly (the Hall & Liberty Bell) are only open for tourists this weekend

due to state and city tourist funds and charitable donations. After that, these buildings will all be closed.





http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/k-donation-will-see-liberty-bell-center-independence-hall-to/article_137ed474-6e4b-59bb-8fab-12126fb38b6e.html

[appalachiablue]

6. City cultural sites have a big attendance over winter holidays, this

mess needs to be resolved soon.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Yup

In fact, one of my BIL's brothers and his wife drove in from OH to see his kids and grands (who live in the area) and my sister has been taking them and all the kids around downtown this weekend. What is interesting about this here in Philly was that according to the news, they dropped the timed tickets for Independence Hall & the Liberty Bell (which the NPS normally would handle if not furloughed) so that actually gives visitors some flexibility.

They said that this weekend normally has the 2nd largest number of tourists in the historic area after July 4th, which was surprising to me!

[appalachiablue]

20. Recently read that too, about this week being the second

most popular for tourists. I didn't realize that, good to know.

[csziggy]

10. The local wildlife refuge - St. Marks - closed their visitor as of last Monday

The refuge will be open, pay by honor system, but no visitor center or restrooms will be open.

[appalachiablue]

13. Thanks for mentioning & I hope this mess is resolved soon.

Sorry to say I didn't know of St. Mark's Refuge in FL. It's so important to preserve our natural habitat & wildlife.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Marks_National_Wildlife_Refuge

[csziggy]

14. It's out of the way but a great place to visit.

It is one of the places that birds and butterflies collect to begin their migration across the Gulf.

This year they have had some unusual visitors - a flamingo and a vermillion flycatcher!

I follow their Facebook page to keep up on what is happening at the refuge: https://www.facebook.com/SMSVNWRS/

The photo club is also very active and has lots of great pictures: https://www.facebook.com/SMNWRPC/

[appalachiablue]

15. Appreciate the links, it looks wonderful, so much space,

diversity of wildlife and accessible. We have relatives in NE FL who love the outdoors and fishing but I don't recall them mentioning this treasure. I'll check with them this month.

Love the birds, Monarchs, Lighthouse, all critters and environs.

[csziggy]

17. It's probably like with us - we don't get to the places near Jacksonville often

It's at least thirty years since we've been to St. Augustine, for instance. We need to make an effort to visit our wild areas, but don't get much chance. Maybe in a couple of years....

[appalachiablue]

19. Time can fly by, and keeping up interests like travel

is important. It's easy to slack off, we all do it and I'm guilty as well.

St. Augustine, really enjoyed the one time we travelled there. Charm, culture and coastal beauty.

Florida has such wonderful diverse history, a rich mixture of Spanish, European and Latin culture, added to beautiful sea, lands, flora, fauna and wildlife.

If it ever improves governance, environmental and other issues can make gains in the Sunshine State.

[csziggy]

21. My problem is health and family difficulties

Since 2001 I have had thirteen major operations and am now waiting to get my L5 vertebrae fused. In addition my father died in 2013, my mother in law in 2017 and my mother in September 2018. All of those have made it very hard to travel or to even plan ahead.

Things are getting better - we're going to Britain in July and hope to travel more in this country over the next several years.

[appalachiablue]

23. That's so much, life really presents big challenges at times.

Good luck with the upcoming surgery, and your plans and travels which sound great, esp. good old Britain.

[brooklynite]

22. My friend at the Supreme Court said they had funds for a couple of weeks...

Wonder how long they'll hold out,.]].