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Hours and Locations

# Arts and Industries Building

                      See on Map                    

Temporarily closed

aib.si.edu

## About

The Arts and Industries Building (AIB) is the Smithsonian’s second oldest building and a national hub for creative exchange between ideas and objects from our past and our future. AIB opened in 1881 as the country’s first U.S. National Museum, an architectural icon in the heart of the National Mall. Its soaring halls introduced millions of Americans to wonders about to change the world—Edison’s lightbulb, the first telephone, Apollo rockets.

Over the years, AIB was the origin and incubator for almost every other Smithsonian museum, debuting everything from dinosaurs to rocket ships. Never fully renovated, the building closed completely in 2004 due to structural concerns before reopening in 2021 with the landmark FUTURES exhibition.

The Arts & Industries Building is temporarily closed to the public. 

## Highlights

To celebrate the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary in 2021, AIB reopened for the first time in two decades with FUTURES, the first building-wide exploration of the future on the National Mall. On view November 21, 2021, through July 6, 2022, FUTURES featured a vast array of interactives, artworks, tech, and ideas that were glimpses into humanity’s next chapter.

## Getting Here

We encourage the use of Metrorail and Metrobus.

### Metrorail

**Metro Station:**Smithsonian (Mall exit)

**Nearest Accessible Metro Entrance:**SmithsonianNW corner 12th St. & Independence Ave., SW

Check Metrorail's Elevator and Escalator Service Status page for service disruptions.

### Parking

There is **no public parking facility** for Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. A limited number of city-operated metered parking spaces are available, including several accessible parking spaces.

View a map of accessible parking spaces.

Reserved parking near the museums can be purchased in advance through ParkWhiz.Note: *ParkWhiz is a third-party vendor (ParkWhiz Privacy Policy).*

## Dining and Shopping

### Dining

While this location does not have dining, view dining options at our other locations.

### Shopping

While this location has no museum store, you can always shop online.

## Accessibility

See **Getting Here**for information on accessible parking and public transportation.

                - Collections Sampler

                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Ground breaking for National Museum Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Postcard of the Old National Museum 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Blank Postcard of the "Spirit of St. Louis" 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Rocket Row 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Department of Anthropology Staff, 1904 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        Arts and Industries Building, Paleontology Exhibits 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Arts and Industries Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Visitors in Front of the U. S. National Museum at the Turn of Century 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Postcard of the United States National Museum Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        Arts and Industries Building Rotunda 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        Arts and Industries Building Rotunda 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Postcard of the Arts and Industries Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Exhibit of Parlor Furniture 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Postcard of the U.S. National Museum and a Garden 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        Arts and Industries Building, Transportation Exhibit 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Smithsonian Geologists, 1886 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        1876 Exhibit, Arts and Industries Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        "Winnie Mae" Airplane with Color Added 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        George C. Maynard Outside USNM 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Arts and Industries Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Opening of "1876: A Centennial Exhibition" 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Jupiter Locomotive, A&I Building 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Machinery Hall, A&I Building, "1876: A Centennial Exhibition" 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        White House East Room Exhibit in First Ladies Hall at the Arts and Industries Building (A&I) 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Mamie Eisenhower and Queen Mother at SI 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        United States National Museum Entomological Workers, 1905 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        National Museum Building Committee, 1880 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Artist's Rendition of "1876: A Centennial Exhibition" 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Family Coachee 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        A&I Building Mechanical Force 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        Postcard of the National Museum 
                          -          Smithsonian Archives - History Div        U.S. National Museum Decorated for Garfield Inaugural Ball 
                          -          Smithsonian Institution Archives        First Ladies Hall, Arts and Industries Building 

Collection items shown may not be on view.

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