Overview
- Major museum changes in early July have added fresh visitor offerings at the National Air and Space Museum with five transformed galleries that restore and spotlight iconic artifacts.
- The Lincoln Memorial Undercroft has been opened as a roughly 15,000-square-foot interpretive space with interactive displays and original documents beneath the memorial.
- The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden is set to reopen in fall 2026 after a multi-year, $68 million revitalization that will expand outdoor sculpture, performances, and dining options.
- Practical trip planning is being revised: many Smithsonian museums and Mall memorials remain free, White House tours must be booked through a member of Congress or an embassy for noncitizens, and 48-hour walkable or bikeable itineraries now incorporate these new sites.
- These projects form part of America250 programming that is prompting renewed institutional investment, greater short-trip appeal for visitors, and the need to plan for heavier summer crowds and advance reservations.