Smithsonian Reopens Castle and Arts and Industries Building for America’s 250th

The Smithsonian announced the reopening of the Castle and the Arts and Industries Building on May 14, 2026, making two of its most historic buildings part of the institution’s programming for America’s 250th anniversary.

The reopening is part of the Smithsonian’s 2026 America at 250 initiative, which combines exhibitions and public conversations in Washington with cultural programming in communities across the United States and three U.S. territories. The effort is designed to connect the National Mall’s museums and research collections with local festivals, cultural heritage activities and discussions about the country’s history and democracy.

Two of the Smithsonian’s oldest buildings

The Smithsonian Castle, completed in 1855, is the institution’s oldest building. Its red sandstone exterior has long been one of the most recognizable landmarks on the National Mall.

The Arts and Industries Building was completed in 1881 and is the Smithsonian’s second-oldest building. Its reopening adds another historic public space to the anniversary programming and provides a venue for exhibitions and events tied to the Smithsonian’s collections and research.

Together, the buildings place the anniversary program in spaces that are themselves part of the Smithsonian’s history. The reopening also gives visitors access to landmarks that are distinct from the institution’s newer museum buildings on the Mall.

Exhibitions and public conversations

Among the planned programs is “Voices and Votes: Exploring Democracy Across America.” The exhibition is part of the Smithsonian’s effort to examine democracy through material drawn from communities around the country.

The Arts and Industries Building’s America at 250 exhibition is scheduled to run from June 16 through Sept. 7, 2026. The Smithsonian also planned public conversations, Folklife Marketplace activities and displays connected to Smithsonian research and cultural heritage.

Those activities broaden the anniversary program beyond a single exhibition. Public conversations create space for discussion, while the marketplace and heritage displays connect Smithsonian programming with cultural practices and community experiences.

Programming beyond Washington

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is involved in “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals,” a program that brings cultural programming to communities across all 50 states and three U.S. territories.

The listed festival locations include Detroit, New Jersey, Tucson and Jackson, Mississippi. The program’s geographic reach gives the national anniversary effort a local component, allowing communities outside Washington to present cultural programming connected to their own histories and traditions.

The Smithsonian’s nationwide approach also reflects the scale of the 250th anniversary. Rather than limiting the program to the National Mall, the institution is using festivals and cultural events to extend participation across the country and U.S. territories.

What the reopening means

The Castle and Arts and Industries Building are Smithsonian facilities on the National Mall, while the associated festival programming extends across the United States and U.S. territories. Their inclusion in the 2026 program links the Smithsonian’s physical landmarks with a broader public calendar of exhibitions, conversations and cultural events.

For visitors, the reopening adds two historic buildings to the places connected with the anniversary programming. For people outside Washington, the festival program offers a way to take part through events in communities around the country.

The scheduled Arts and Industries exhibition runs through Sept. 7, 2026. The Smithsonian’s America at 250 programming also includes the Voices and Votes exhibition, public conversations, Folklife Marketplace activities and the Festival of Festivals, with participating locations including Detroit, New Jersey, Tucson and Jackson, Mississippi.

Sources

• Smithsonian Reopens the Iconic and Historic Castle and the Arts and Industries Building for America’s 250th, Smithsonian Institution
• America at 250, Smithsonian Institution

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