Smithsonian station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 1, 1977 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington Metropolitan Area |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
Smithsonian station is a Washington Metro stop situated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Since its inauguration on July 1, 1977, it has been served by the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines. The facility includes two side platforms and offers several entry points near Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW.
The station derives its name from its close location to the Smithsonian Institution museums and also provides convenient access to prominent attractions such as the Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin, making it a popular destination for visitors. Moreover, it serves various federal agencies including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.
History
This station commenced operations on July 1, 1977, coinciding with the completion of rail service connecting National Airport and RFK Stadium, along with the debut of several significant stations like Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, and Stadium–Armory. The Orange Line began serving the station on November 20, 1978, followed by the Silver Line starting July 26, 2014.
The station was notably the location of Metro’s first fatal accident on January 13, 1982, when a train derailed. On that same day, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the nearby 14th Street Bridge, resulting in a shutdown of federal operations within the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Between 2002 and 2008, Smithsonian station was closed annually on Independence Day due to its position inside the National Mall’s secure zone during festivities; these closures were discontinued beginning in 2009.
In April 2016, WMATA suggested appending "National Mall" to the station’s name; this addition became official on June 25, 2017.
The station was temporarily shut from March 19 to June 28, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also experienced closure from January 15 to January 21, 2021, for security precautions related to Joe Biden’s inauguration following the January 6 Capitol incident.
Notable places nearby
- Various Federal Government offices including:
- National Mall
- Numerous nearby Smithsonian museums such as:
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Arts and Industries Building
- Freer Gallery
- Hirshhorn Museum
- National Museum of African Art
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Smithsonian Institution Building (known as The "Castle")
- Tidal Basin, famous for hosting the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Washington Monument
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Smithsonian Station
- Coordinates for The Mall Entrance (North Entrance):
- Coordinates for Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW Entrance (South Entrance):
- Coordinates for Street Elevator Entrance:
- Google Maps Street View of Jefferson Drive entrance
- Google Maps Street View of Independence Avenue entrance
- Articles with short description
- Stations on the Blue Line (Washington Metro)
- Stations on the Orange Line (Washington Metro)
- Stations on the Silver Line (Washington Metro)
- Washington Metro stations in Washington, D.C.
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1977
- 1977 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Railway stations located underground in Washington, D.C.