Exclusive: Smithsonian Castle reopens with iconic artifacts and lobster rolls
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The Smithsonian Castle, the institution's oldest building, reopens on the National Mall. Photo: Courtesy Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Castle is temporarily reopening on the National Mall next week after a years-long closure, complete with historic treasures and New England eats.
Why it matters: If Amelia Earhart's flight suit doesn't lure you in, maybe lobster rolls inside the Smithsonian's oldest building will.
The big picture: The Smithsonian is going big for America's 250th anniversary, reopening some of its most beloved landmarks on the south side of the Mall amid major renovations.
- The Castle will be open to the public from May 22 to Sept. 7.
- The Smithsonian carousel returned in late April after a major restoration.
- The Arts and Industries Building — the Smithsonian's second-oldest building — reopens June 16 for public programming until Sept. 7. Plus: exhibits, Folklife Festival displays and a marketplace.
Zoom in: The Castle first opened in 1855 and was designed by James Renwick Jr., a Gothic Revival mastermind you can thank for the Renwick Gallery and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. It housed the first Smithsonian museum.
- Visitors can explore the restored Great Hall and "American Aspirations" (June 2–July 26), a new exhibition co-curated by Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch.
- The exhibit features iconic artifacts tied to the nation's founding and evolution, including Thomas Jefferson's writing desk, Amelia Earhart's flight suit and a model of the Statue of Liberty.
The intrigue: Mall food is getting upgraded, including the Castle's new Summer Shack. The café will serve New England-style eats daily (9am-4:30pm) like lobster or spiced shrimp rolls, chowder, chili dogs, whoopie pies and strawberry-mango coolers.
- There's Castle seating, as well as grab-and-go sandwiches and salads for Mall visitors on the move.