Smithsonian Institution has record year in 2009, with 30 million visits
- January 07, 2010 10:36
A full year of open doors at the National Museum of American History, combined with a robust bump from the crowds in Washington for the inauguration, brought a record number of visits to the Smithsonian in 2009. Last year, according to numbers released this week by the Smithsonian, the institution's 19 facilities received 30 million visits. The American History Museum had been closed for two years for renovation and the addition of a gallery for the Star-Spangled Banner.
100x100_c.jpg "NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE DAWN (Bleue), circa 1993 painted polyester on metal base 55.51 x 45.51 x 25 in. 141 x 115.6 x 63.5 cm.")
![Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.](/images/c/e2/2e/Jan20_Rape_of_Europa100x100_c.jpg "Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.")
