The Washington Times

Smithsonian to reopen with no major storm damage

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Smithsonian Institution’s museums and National Zoo are reopening on the National Mall after shutting their doors for two days because of superstorm Sandy.

Wednesday’s reopening will come as welcome news to tourists visiting Washington who found few businesses open as the storm passed through.

Smithsonian officials say all the museums and their facilities in Maryland and Virginia are in good condition. There was no damage to the collections. Some buildings did have leaks during the storm, but maintenance staff was on hand to place sandbags in some areas to keep the buildings mostly dry inside.

At the National Zoo, officials say the animals weathered the storm with no problem.

The Smithsonian says its National Museum of the American Indian in New York remains closed, but its collection is safe.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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