WP: Smithsonian's American History Museum to Close for Nearly Two Years

American History Museum to Close for Nearly Two Years
By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

The National Museum of American History will close for almost two years, the Smithsonian Institution announced this morning. The shutdown will allow the museum -- keeper of items ranging from the gunboat Philadelphia to Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers -- to build a new gallery for the Star-Spangled Banner and overhaul and update the building's interior.

The 42-year-old museum, the largest history museum in the country and the third most popular of the Smithsonian's museums, will close on Labor Day. Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2008.

The centerpiece of the new plan will be a dramatic enclosure for the banner, the flag that few over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment of 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that became the national anthem. The Smithsonian has had the flag since 1907. During the past eight years, the flag has undergone thorough restoration and the Smithsonian announced today that the work is complete.

Its new home will be a theatrical setting, with the lights dimmed to evoke the "dawn's early light," with Key's words floating behind it and the flag tilted 12 degrees upward. It will no longer be hung vertically because of the stress on the wool and cotton fibers. The flag's gallery will be behind a soaring 19 foot abstract flag and panels at the entrance and exit of the enclosure will tell the history of the flag and the restoration project.

"This is the beginning of our architectural transformation," said Brent D. Glass, the museum's director. Glass said the decision to close the entire museum was made reluctantly after it became clear that this was the quickest, safest, and most cost effective way to do the work....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201278.html?sub=AR

in two years, the gubbermint might not have the money to reopen it, or (more likely), I won't have the gas money to get there.

I will be up on the mall in two weeks so I will be sure to stop in before they close.

Ronald Reagan will be "The Father of our Country". And George Bu$h's fighter jet, the one he flew when he shot down 27 MIGS in Viet Nam, will be there replacing The "Spirit of St. Louis".

so that visitors may pray to the Divine Fabric.

does any one know if Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers (one of the four pairs Judy wore) that where stolen from a museum in Michigan ever found?

It is displayed in a case along side Glenn Seaborg's Nobel medal.

evidence and classify it top secret.:sarcasm:

what is it with some people and this insane flag-worshipping?

It needs it. It looks about the same it did 25 years ago... and is getting drab and ruin down.

military ascendance. This is an insane reason to close the museum. Sure, I'd like to see this flag - but not at the expense of closing the museum!

Which badly needs it -- the flag exhibit will also be done at this time, but isn't the sole reason for the closing. I was just in there a few months ago, and it is seriously run down and ratty looking, and the display areas need some serious work.

I agree that the place is a mess.

There's no real organization to the museum and it's gradually become a showcase for pieces of pop culture (which does have it's place) vs. a guide through American history.

I saw this article in the Wash. Post and since I live in the DC area I'll have to definitely jump on the metro and get one last glimpse at everything before Labor Day.

we will be down there for activities in May and some of them are coming in from for the first time.

They just closed the main Houston library for TWO YEARS for remodelling. A 6 floor building and they have to shut it down for 2 years??

I think it's another example of how our government places zero value on what exists for the benefit of the people, as opposed to for the benefit of business. If it existed for the sake of corporate America they would surely have a backup plan.

Back to the museum --
Wonder if Neil / Ignite will get the contract to rewrite the history?

Looks like I'll be hitting it next week and in the summer.

That place is in serious need of an overhaul. In the past year, I noticed at least 1/3 of the exhibits have been closed off, including my favorite section (Information Age).

Good thing that in DC (unlike Duh-HIGH-Ah), there's lots more to do and see than just the AHM.

monuments and replace them with St. Ronnie.

Hey, it worked for the pharohs.

There's a lot of exhibits closed for renovation already. While I agree with a lot of the flag comments in this thread, the flag that is the focus of this article is very interesting and worthy of their preservation attempts.