It is the most popular museum for the moment. Overcrowding is an issue because of safety reasons and to protect the original artifacts that are openly displayed. It is a beautiful space. It takes several visits to get the full essence of the museum.
Well, if you were there this past Wednesday, you would appreciate what they are doing - they let anyone in (pass or no pass) due to the snowstorm. By 1pm you couldn't even move, the place was so jammed. You couldn't see any of the exhibits and there was a 5 minute line just to change floors! Not only was it not comfortable - it wasn't safe. Getting tickets is easy - follow their website link and go to the 630am online release of timed passes. I easily got tickets 2 days in a row for the times that I wanted. It doesn't get easier than that.
They learned their lesson with the American Indian Museum that opened some years ago. The lines were astronomical without a ticket requirement. The plan is to require tickets this year but go to the same open admission as the rest of the Smithsonian next year. The Holocaust Museum (tho not a Smithsonian) still requires tickets (with a modest processing fee of like a dollar) and they've been open for decades. I'm a tour guide in DC and often have tons of extra tixs for these places because they are so easy to reserve in advance. We're always handing them out on the streets! And this is definitely high season. Eighth graders from all over the country come here on their spring break. Then, there is the Cherry Blossom Festival starting in a few days which will bring 8 million tourists to town. (I would recommend coming in the fall. The middle schoolers rule DC from March to June, and July and August are just too hot.)
All of fhem are overcrowded. We were informed this is high season. They have to protect the people going in and the exhibits. They usually have tickets for later in the day if show up early. Or if you have a valid military ID they give out tickets all day.
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