April 12, 2006
American History Museum to Close for Renovations
The National Museum of American History has announced it will be closing at the end of this summer for approximately 2 years to undergo major renovations, which will include architectural and structural improvements. The most obvious aesthetic change visitors will notice when the museum reopens will likely be a new, special gallery to house the Star-Spangled Banner. From the press release:
An abstract flag, made of lightweight, reflective polycarbonate and approximately 40 feet long and up to 19 feet high will soar above the entrance to the new Star-Spangled Banner gallery and will become the new central focal point of the second floor where more than two-thirds of the museum’s visitors enter. Visitors to the flag gallery will experience the 30 by-34 foot wool and cotton Star-Spangled Banner in a new setting with floor-to-ceiling glass windows designed to evoke the “dawn’s early light” in which Francis Scott Key saw the flag, still flying above Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor in 1814.We're all for the Star-Spangled Banner project, which has been responsible for the conservation of the famous flag since 1998. But let's just hope museum director Brent Glass spares us the certain torture that would be involved if the new gallery also includes a looped audio feature. Think of the poor security guards and other museum employees being forced to listen to our national anthem over and over and over and over again. The horror.
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Ummmm, giant flag window? Baltimore done got that already.
Link: http://www.baltimorefunguide.com/calendar/detailAttraction.do?id=2485
Photo: http://www.flaghouse.org/images/ACF1808.jpg
ummm KC.. so what? does everything have to be original? it is a history museum afterall.
There will be no audio within the flag chamber - so no annoying loops. And its not a flag window - its a facade to the chamber. You won't be able to see anything through it. It will just make it obvious that you are approaching the home of the Star-Spangled Banner.
There will be no audio within the flag chamber - so no annoying loops. And its not a flag window - its a facade to the chamber. You won't be able to see anything through it. It will just make it obvious that you are approaching the home of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Argh, just as the American Art and Portrait Galleries reopen after what was originally touted as a three-year renovation and turned out to be a seven-year project, the NMAH closes. Is this a common practice in the museum biz? I've lived in other towns, and I've never heard of museums shutting down for years at a time like they do here. It's too bad the Smithsonian never got around to renovating the Arts & Industries building, now shuttered due to unsafe conditions; perhaps some of the holdings could have been transferred there.
Though I hate its design, NMAH hosts some of my favorite Smithsonian exhibits (Julia Child's kitchen is at the top of my list). Let's just hope they'll raise some ceiling levels and add better lighting during the renovations.
The AMNH is one of the worst buildings (with a great collection) on the Mall. An interior renovation can't hurt, but the whole thing should be bulldozed and replaced with something bigger/better. That deserted bowl-shaped area on the west side of the building should be incorporated into the new design, or at the very least a new wing added there. It's kind of the museum equivalent of those failed plazas and pedestrianized streets of the 1970s.
And yes, I agree that the beautiful Arts and Industries building across the way should be restored and reopened with additional exhibits. It rocks!
Correction, I meant "MNAH", d'oh!
Correction, I meant "NMAH", d'oh!
Oh DCist, I don't know what you're talking about. The Star Spangled Banner is as soothing as the ocean to me. It's the only song on my ipod. But then I love America - unlike some people, Senator Feingold.
This is good news! The NMAH is in dire need of renovation. And there's a funky odor that lurks about the place.
NMAH is protected by some law about not altering the exterior of historic buildings. However, I agree with some of you that the kleenex box is ugly and the never-used bandstand should go and be replaced by a new wing. While we're dreaming, can I suggest it be entirely state of the art storage for collections? Then the main building could house more exhibitions. It won't happen anytime soon given that they still need to find $25 million for this renovation. I've started a pool among my friends as to when NMAH actually reopens. Earliest guess is 2009.
While the NMAH is being renovated, couldn't they renovate the national anthem while they're at it? Let's make it "America the Beautiful" instead. Haven't there been enough US bombs bursting in the air everywhere that we don't need to be reminded of it everytime we go to a ballgame.
Damn....can't they wait until the Children's museum opens in 2009? Where will I take the kids on rainy days now?
VC, I think it is kind of common for museums to shut down for extended periods. I think the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has been partially closed for a few years. I still don't understand why the renovations for American History will take so long.. the only exhibits I noticed in need of work was the technology wing.. and I had a bit of trouble locating the photography exhibit too.
Is this a common practice in the museum biz?
When MoMA underwent renovations a few years ago, they moved the collection out to Queens. An inconvenience, sure, but better than nothing. So I wonder why they can't move some of the NMAH collection to temporary space.
NMAH is not closing simply for a cosmetic overhaul. The infrastructure has to be upgraded and that can't be done safely with the public in the building. I have no idea about temporary space for exhibition but I'm guessing that temporary space is hard to come by when this project isn't even fully funded (see: still have to raise $25 million). Comparing it with MoMA doesn't work well. MoMA has about 200,000 objects in their collections. According to their Web site, NMAH has over 3 million objects and most of it, I think, is housed in the building.
"Damn....can't they wait until the Children's museum opens in 2009? Where will I take the kids on rainy days now?"
We've never found the NMAH to be a good bet for kids. The bric-a-brac of people have never impressed (except for Dorothy's ruby slippers -- and my daughter's main interest in seeing those is to complain about how ratty they look). We've found both Natural History and Air & Space to be more engaging. Ditto with the nearby Botanical Garden. The old Newseum used to be fun for kids, and I think the new one opens next year?