Two more DC-area museums will close Monday as COVID-19 cases surge

As coronavirus cases surge in the D.C. area and throughout the country, the list of area museums electing to temporarily close is getting longer.

Two more local attractions announced their upcoming closures following eight Smithsonian facilities and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum who said they were closing earlier in the week.

Planet Word, which described itself as “the world’s first voice-activated museum,” is a newly-opened museum in Northwest D.C. dedicated to language.

It opened four weeks ago under Phase Two of the District’s pandemic reopening requirements with limited capacity. But in a statement sent Friday, Planet Word said, “in support of the safety of our community,” it will be temporarily closed to the public.

“It has been exhilarating to bring Planet Word to life and to have your support of its mission to renew and inspire a love of words, language and reading,” the statement said. 

The museum will continue to engage with its patrons online and via social media.

Another destination that will close starting Monday is the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. It will remain open for visitors throughout the weekend with “proper COVID-19 protocols.”

The museum’s grounds, including the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and the playground, will remain open.

Neither museum has set reopening dates.


More Coronavirus news

Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

Dan Friedell

Dan Friedell is a digital writer for WTOP. He came to the D.C. area in 2007 to work as digital editor for USATODAY.com, and since then has worked for a number of local and national news organizations.

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