Newseum To Close At End Of Year After Serving The Nation For More Than A Decade

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(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A museum in the nation’s capital dedicated to the First Amendment is closing at the end of the year after operating for more than a decade.

The Newseum in Washington D.C. made the announcement Tuesday, citing financial troubles.

“Continuing to operate in our current location has proven unsustainable,” the facility said in a news release posted on its website.

The 250,000-square-foot museum property on Pennsylvania Avenue has been sold to Johns Hopkins University.

Opened in 2008, the Newseum's mission has been to "increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment," the not-for-profit says on its website.

"Visitors experience the story of news, the role of a free press in major events in history, and how the core freedoms of the First Amendment — religion, speech, press, assembly and petition — apply to their lives."

The Freedom Forum, the educational and outreach arm of the museum, is expected to continue, officials said.

After more than 11 years and nearly 10 million visitors, we will be closing Dec. 31, 2019, but there is still time to visit.You’re #OnDeadline to come and visit us for the FINAL time. Get 15% off tickets online! https://t.co/Br1SJmDnnw pic.twitter.com/GSDYCE5AaP

— Newseum (@Newseum) October 1, 2019