Smithsonian station

Smithsonian is a side platformed Washington Metro station at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It is a stop on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines.[2] The station's south entrance is at the southwest corner of Independence Avenue and 12th Street, Southwest, the street elevator is at the northwest corner of the same intersection, and the north entrance is on the south side of the Mall near Jefferson Drive, Southwest.

Smithsonian
rapid transit station
The station platform view from the mezzanine in July 2007
Location1200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.
Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Connections Metrobus: 16C, 52, V1
DC Circulator
Loudoun County Commuter Bus
OmniRide Commuter
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Bicycle facilities2 racks
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station codeD02
History
OpenedJuly 1, 1977 (July 1, 1977)
Traffic
Passengers (2017)9,135 daily [1]  1.4%
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Federal Triangle
toward Franconia–Springfield
 Blue Line L'Enfant Plaza
toward Largo Town Center
Federal Triangle
toward Wiehle–Reston East
 Silver Line
Federal Triangle
toward Vienna
 Orange Line L'Enfant Plaza
toward New Carrollton

The station is named for its proximity to the Smithsonian Institution's museums and is close to the Washington Monument, the Tidal Basin and other tourist attractions on and near the National Mall. The station is also near several federal office buildings, including those of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.

History

The station opened on July 1, 1977.[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[4] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, and Stadium–Armory stations.[5] Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.[6] Silver Line service at Smithsonian station began on July 26, 2014.[7]

Near this station, Metro had its first fatalities, which occurred on January 13, 1982 when a train derailed.[8] On the same day, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge. The two events closed the federal government in the Washington Metropolitan Area.[8]

The Smithsonian station was closed all day on the Fourth of July from 2002 to 2008, as its north entrance is within the secure perimeter established around the National Mall during Independence Day events. Metro stopped closing Smithsonian station on July 4 beginning in 2009.[9]

On April 14, 2016, Metro has proposed to change the name of the station adding "National Mall" to the station name.[10]

On June 25, 2017, "National Mall" was added as a subtitle to "Smithsonian".[11]

From March 19, 2020 until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[12][13][14]

Station layout
G Street level Exit/entrance, buses
M Mezzanine Fare control, ticket machines, station agent
P
Platform level		 Side platform
Westbound ← toward Franconia–Springfield (Federal Triangle)
← toward Wiehle–Reston East (Federal Triangle)
← toward Vienna/Fairfax–GMU (Federal Triangle)
Eastbound →   toward Largo Town Center (L'Enfant Plaza) →
→ toward New Carrollton (L'Enfant Plaza) →
Side platform

Notable places nearby
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References
  1. "Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings" (PDF). WMATA. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  2. "Smithsonian". WMATA. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  3. Feaver, Douglas B. (July 1, 1977), "Today, Metro could be U.S. model", The Washington Post, p. A1
  4. "Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). WMATA. 2017. p. 3. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  5. Staff Reporters (June 24, 1977), "Metro's newest stations: Where they are, what's nearby", The Washington Post
  6. Eisen, Jack; John Feinstein (November 18, 1978), "City-County fanfare opens Orange Line; Ceremonies open new Orange Line", The Washington Post, p. D1
  7. Halsey, Ashley (July 26, 2014). "All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. Stephen J. Lynton (January 14, 1982). "Metro Train -Derails; 3 Die". The Washington Post.
  9. "Metro outlines Independence Day service" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. June 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  10. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (2016). "Station Name Change Proposals" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  11. "June 25 Fare Service Changes" (PDF). WMATA.
  12. "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  13. "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  15. Jesse Leaf (March 13, 2007). The Everything Family Guide To Washington D.C.: All the Best Hotels, Restaurants, Sites, and Attractions. Adams Media. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-4405-2411-0. accessible from the Smithsonian Metro station...
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