Shutdown May Shut Off Washington Attractions

A half-a-million tourists could be turned away from Washington attractions this weekend alone should a government shutdown occur. Institutions that would be closed include the National Zoo and Smithsonian museums on the Mall, The Washington Post reports.

The potential shutdown of government would occur just as the Washington, D.C., area hits its peak tourist season that draws not just families but school groups from across the nation.

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas told the Post that the museums, including the Air and Space Museum and the American History Museum, could lose millions of visitors and revenue from meals and souvenirs. Some 23,000 advance tickets have been sold this month for lunches and IMAX theater shows.

While there are a handful of paid, nongovernment attractions in Washington such as the Newseum and the Spy Museum, those coming to see the “the Hope diamond, Spirit of St Louis, some nice dinosaur bones, the ruby slippers, and other icons” will be out of luck, St. Thomas told the Post.