Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

pausing history

I just read on DCist that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on the Mall is going to close for two years for renovations beginning at the end of the summer.

The museum is certainly in need of a good facelift: Some of its exhibits seem hopelessly dated and the organization of exhibits around the museum is a bit baffling. But two years seems like an awfully long time to close one of the biggest museums in the city. I’m surprised they’re not closing down just portions of the museum at a time, rolling out the renovations in phases.

I guess I can amuse myself in the meantime by checking out the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum, which are reopening in July after extensive renovations to the old Patent Office Building that houses both museums.