Interior Department Museum Reopens to the Public

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior announced today that the Interior Museum is reopening to the public on May 2. Public tours of the building's New Deal-era murals will also resume with advance reservations. The museum had been closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Since 1938, the Interior Museum has played a key role in sharing the Interior Department's missions and stories with the public,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “I am thrilled that people can once again visit the museum to explore the nearly 175-year history of Interior’s stewardship of our nation’s public lands, natural resources and cultural heritage."

Visitors returning to the museum will be greeted by an expanded visitor experience. During the closure, the museum added approximately 2,000 square feet of renovated gallery space and launched a major new exhibition. Thomas Moran & the ‘Big Picture’ is anchored by the recent homecoming of two masterpieces by Thomas Moran, including “The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone” (1872) and “The Chasm of the Colorado” (1873-1874), both created from sketches he made while accompanying major government-sponsored geological survey expeditions.

The May 2 reopening of the museum coincides with the 150th anniversary of the public debut of Moran’s influential Yellowstone panorama. In capturing the natural beauty of Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, Moran’s two monumental canvases framed many people’s impressions of the American West and are deeply intertwined with the history of the Department of the Interior.

Beginning Monday, May 2, regular museum hours will be Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is located in the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building at 1849 C Street, NW. Hours are subject to change, based on health and safety protocols.

The museum and its tours and public events are free of charge. Visitors to the Stewart Lee Udall Building are required to pass through a security screening with bag and parcel checks and comply with local COVID-19 restrictions. Individuals over 18 years of age must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

Additional information about the Interior Museum, including how to reserve a tour, is available at the Museum’s website.

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