As you know, our nation’s government is in a state of shutdown. This shutdown has affected some of the places on planned group trips, particularly in Washington D.C. However, our dynamic team at Scholastica Travel is taking every step to ensure that groups traveling during the shutdown have a very enjoyable, educational, and exciting trip! We are monitoring changes closely, making necessary adjustments, and are keeping our group leaders and tour leaders consistently updated. As a team of travel professionals, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating memorable educational adventures and engaging students in their world and history.
The great news is that Washington D.C. remains the best place to learn about our nation’s history and experience history in the making! Destination D.C. has compiled the list below of attractions that remain open during the shutdown.
What’s Affected During a Shutdown
Open-air national parks, such as the National Mall and its monuments and memorials, remain open and accessible but with limited access. Most staffed services will be unavailable, including park ranger-led tours and memorial shops.
Smithsonian Institution sites and the National Gallery of Art are currently closed to the public due to the shutdown.
What’s Not Affected During a Shutdown
ART, ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ATTRACTIONS
- Artechouse
- Art Museum of the Americas
- District Architecture Center
- Dumbarton Oaks
- Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
- Glenstone Museum
- The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- Kreeger Museum
- Long View Gallery
- The Mansion on O & O Street Museum
- Museum of the Bible
- National Building Museum
- National Geographic Museum
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- The Observation Deck at CEB Tower
- The Phillips Collection
- St. Matthews Cathedral
- U.S. Botanic Garden
- The Textile Museum
- The Wharf
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- Washington National Cathedral
MUSEUMS, HISTORIC SITES & SPOTS
- African American Civil War Memorial Museum
- Anderson House – The Society of Cincinnati
- Arlington House
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Bureau of Engraving & Printing
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Museum
- DAR Constitution Hall
- DAR Museum
- Folger Shakespeare Theatre
- Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- Kreeger Museum
- Library of Congress
- Madame Tussauds
- National Law Enforcement Museum
- National Museum of the Marine Corps
- National Museum of the U.S. Navy
- Newseum
- President Lincoln’s Cottage
- Saint John Paul II National Shrine
- Tudor Place House & Garden
- Union Station
- U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Washington National Cathedral
- Woodrow Wilson House
PERFORMING ARTS & CONCERT VENUES
- Folger Shakespeare Library
- The Hamilton Live
- Howard Theatre
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Lincoln Theatre
- Medieval Times
- National Theatre
- Pearl Street Warehouse
- Studio Theater
- Signature Theater
- Shakespeare Theatre Company
- Strathmore
- Toby’s Dinner Theatre
- U Street Music Hall
- Warner Theatre
- Washington National Opera
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Several of the above opened sites are offering discounted admission during the shutdown. Talk to your travel consultant for more details.
We are hoping for a swift resolution in Congress. In the meantime, our amazing travel experiences for all of our travelers will not stop! We look forward to sharing the DC experience with your group today and in the future. We’ll keep you posted!
