THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN US HISTORY HAS COME TO AN END, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO NORMAL IN THE SNAP OF A FINGER.

WHILE FEDERAL WORKERS BEGAN RETURNING TO THEIR JOBS ON THURSDAY, OTHER STORIED INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON REMAINED CLOSED.

THE DOORS OF THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – NORMALLY OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC – REMAINED SHUT.

INCLUDING THE NATIONAL ZOO, WHICH WELCOMES ABOUT 2 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR.

SIGNS OUTSIDE MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS LET POTENTIAL VISITORS KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT OPEN, YET.

HOWEVER, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WHICH REMAINED CLOSED DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, HAS REOPENED FOR VISITORS AND RESEARCHERS.

GETTING THESE INSTITUTIONS UP AND RUNNING AGAIN TAKES TIME, AS WORKERS ARE CALLED BACK TO THEIR DUTIES AND MANAGEMENT PREPARES TO WELCOME BACK LOCALS AND TOURISTS TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY AND CULTURE IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL.