Smithsonian station

Washington Metro station

Smithsonian
National Mall

View from mezzanine in August 2021

General information
Location| 1200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Owned by| Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms| 2 side platforms
Tracks| 2
Connections|

* Metrobus: 52
* Loudoun County Commuter Bus
* OmniRide Commuter

Construction
Structure type| Underground
Bicycle facilities| Capital Bikeshare, 2 racks
Accessible| Yes
Other information
Station code| D02
History
Opened| July 1, 1977; 47 years ago (July 1, 1977)
Passengers
2023| 5,020 daily[1]
Rank| 16 out of 98
Services
| Preceding station  |  Washington Metro | Following station

|
|

Federal Triangle

toward Vienna

|  | Orange Line |  | L'Enfant Plaza

toward New Carrollton

Federal Triangle

toward Ashburn

|  | Silver Line |  | L'Enfant Plaza

toward Downtown Largo

Federal Triangle

toward Franconia–Springfield

|  | Blue Line |

Route map

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|  |  Federal Triangle

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|  |  L'Enfant Plaza
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Location

Smithsonian station is a Washington Metro station at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. The side platformed station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It is a stop on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines.[2] The station's south entrance is at the southwest corner of Independence Avenue and 12th Street, Southwest, the street elevator is at the northwest corner of the same intersection, and the north entrance is on the south side of the Mall near Jefferson Drive, Southwest.

The station is named for its proximity to the Smithsonian Institution's museums and is close to the Washington Monument, the Tidal Basin and other tourist attractions on and near the National Mall. The station is also near several federal office buildings, including those of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.

## History

[edit]

The station opened on July 1, 1977.[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[4] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the 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 stations.[5] Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.[6] Silver Line service at Smithsonian station began on July 26, 2014.[7]

Near this station, Metro had its first fatalities, which occurred on January 13, 1982, when a train derailed.[8] On the same day, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge. The two events closed the federal government in the Washington Metropolitan Area.[8]

The Smithsonian station was closed all day on the Fourth of July from 2002 to 2008, as its north entrance is within the secure perimeter established around the National Mall during Independence Day events. Metro stopped closing Smithsonian station on July 4 beginning in 2009.[9]

On April 14, 2016, Metro proposed to change the name of the station adding "National Mall" to the station name.[10]

On June 25, 2017, "National Mall" was added as a subtitle to "Smithsonian".[11]

From March 19, 2020, until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13][14]

From January 15 to January 21, 2021, this station was closed because of security concerns due to the Inauguration of Joe Biden,[15] in light of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

## Notable places nearby

[edit]

* Several Federal Government buildings, including:
* Bureau of Engraving and Printing
* United States Department of Agriculture
* United States Department of Energy
* National Mall
* Several Smithsonian museums, nearest are:
* 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 (The "Castle")
* Tidal Basin (where the cherry blossoms bloom)
* United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
* Washington Monument[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
2. ^ "Smithsonian". WMATA. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
3. ^ Feaver, Douglas B. (July 1, 1977), "Today, Metro could be U.S. model", The Washington Post, p. A1
4. ^ "Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). WMATA. 2017. p. 3. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
5. ^ Staff Reporters (June 24, 1977), "Metro's newest stations: Where they are, what's nearby", The Washington Post
6. ^ Eisen, Jack; John Feinstein (November 18, 1978), "City-County fanfare opens Orange Line; Ceremonies open new Orange Line", The Washington Post, p. D1
7. ^ Halsey, Ashley (July 26, 2014). "All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
8. ^ a b Stephen J. Lynton (January 14, 1982). "Metro Train -Derails; 3 Die". The Washington Post.
9. ^ "Metro outlines Independence Day service" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. June 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
10. ^ Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (2016). "Station Name Change Proposals" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2016.
11. ^ "June 25 Fare Service Changes" (PDF). WMATA.
12. ^ "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
13. ^ "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
14. ^ "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
15. ^ "Metro announces Inauguration service plans, station closures | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
16. ^ Jesse Leaf (March 13, 2007). The Everything Family Guide To Washington D.C.: All the Best Hotels, Restaurants, Sites, and Attractions. Adams Media. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-4405-2411-0. "accessible from the Smithsonian Metro station..."

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Smithsonian (WMATA station) at Wikimedia Commons

* WMATA Smithsonian station page

* The Schumin Web Transit Center: Smithsonian Station
* The Mall Entrance (North Entrance) is at coordinates 38°53′20.7″N 77°1′42.2″W﻿ / ﻿38.889083°N 77.028389°W﻿ / 38.889083; -77.028389
* The Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW Entrance (South Entrance) is at coordinates 38°53′14.7″N 77°1′42.6″W﻿ / ﻿38.887417°N 77.028500°W﻿ / 38.887417; -77.028500
* The Street Elevator Entrance is at coordinates 38°53′15.90″N 77°1′42.75″W﻿ / ﻿38.8877500°N 77.0285417°W﻿ / 38.8877500; -77.0285417
* Jefferson Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View
* Independence Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View

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