Are Liberty Bell, Independence Hall open during government shutdown? What to know

Planning a day trip to see some historical sites? You may want to call to check if the sites are open or not. 

With the government shutdown, many National Park Service attractions are either limited or shuttered until the impasse is resolved.  

Whether the site is open depends on the type of attraction it is – open air or museum – and who runs the attraction – the government or a private foundation. 

Here's a look at some of the historical sites in the region. 

Will the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall be open during government shutdown?

It depends on who is running the site.

In the 2018-2019 shutdown, both the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall were closed to the public. Visitors should expect locked gates and closed visitor centers and restrooms as park rangers will be furloughed.

However, the Independence Park Visitors Center remained open in 2018-2019 because sites in Independence Park are run by different entities – some federal, some private – the outcomes for different sites will depend on the management.

Will the Statue of Liberty in New York be open during a government shutdown?

No, unless there's a deal between the state of New York and the Interior Department. 

The National Park Service operates the monument, but during the previous shutdown in 2018, it remained open after New York stepped in to provide funding.

Will Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., be open during a government shutdown? 

It depends.

During previous shutdowns, the Smithsonian museums were able to use surplus previous-year funding to remain open at first, but once that money ran out, they were forced to close. So, it depends on how long the shutdown lasts.

Will the National Mall in Washington, D.C., be open during a government shutdown?

Technically, people would still be able to access the National Mall's green spaces and open-air memorials. However, staffing for restrooms and sanitation maintenance and trash collection are not guaranteed.

During the shutdown in 2018, facilities like restrooms and interiors like those at the Washington Monument were closed to visitors.

Will the Gettysburg National Military Park be open during a government shutdown?

According to the Gettysburg foundation website, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center and its complex, which is owned and operated by the Gettysburg Foundation, will remain open during the government shutdown.