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Government shuts down, parks and museums take the hit

The Lincoln Memorial is sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.
The Lincoln Memorial is sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.Jason Reed / Reuters
By Jon Sweeney, NBC News
A National Parks policeman walks past a sign after the Lincoln Memorial was sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.
A National Parks policeman walks past a sign after the Lincoln Memorial was sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.Jason Reed / Reuters
Fay Wagstaff of El Paso, Texas, sits on the front steps of the closed Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, Oct. 1.
Fay Wagstaff of El Paso, Texas, sits on the front steps of the closed Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, Oct. 1.Carolyn Kaster / AP

The U.S. government began a partial shutdown on Tuesday for the first time in 17 years, placing hundreds of thousands of federal employees on indefinite furloughs, closing national parks and stalling medical research projects.

Is the government shutdown affecting your life or travel plans? Use #DearCongress on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine to share your thoughts with us, or upload your pictures directly by clicking the "add photos" box.

Christine Palka, a park ranger at Grand Teton National Park, turns away visitors in Moose, Wy. on Oct. 1, following the government shutdown.
Christine Palka, a park ranger at Grand Teton National Park, turns away visitors in Moose, Wy. on Oct. 1, following the government shutdown.Jonathan Adams / for NBC News
Abigail Welch, a member of the Family, Career and Community Leadership of America group, poses in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on day one of the government shutdown. Her group was scheduled to meet with members of the Congress on Tuesday.
Abigail Welch, a member of the Family, Career and Community Leadership of America group, poses in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on day one of the government shutdown. Her group was scheduled to meet with members of the Congress on Tuesday.Gary Cameron / Reuters
A U.S. Park Police officer asks tourists to leave the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial as it is closes in Washington on Oct. 1.
A U.S. Park Police officer asks tourists to leave the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial as it is closes in Washington on Oct. 1.Shawn Thew / EPA
Tourists who had hoped to visit the Statue of Liberty stand near the dock used by Liberty Island ferries on Oct. 1, in New York City.
Tourists who had hoped to visit the Statue of Liberty stand near the dock used by Liberty Island ferries on Oct. 1, in New York City.Mark Lennihan / AP
Tourist Tomoko Ida, right, of Tokyo, covers her mouth when she hears that the Statue of Liberty is closed, Oct. 1, in New York City. Traveling with her are Jin Onuki, left, and Tomoya Osada.
Tourist Tomoko Ida, right, of Tokyo, covers her mouth when she hears that the Statue of Liberty is closed, Oct. 1, in New York City. Traveling with her are Jin Onuki, left, and Tomoya Osada.Mark Lennihan / AP
The Lincoln Memorial is sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.
The Lincoln Memorial is sealed off from visitors in Washington on Oct. 1.Jason Reed / Reuters
A group of art students take up the staircase of the National Art Gallery as it is closed due to Federal government shutdown in Washington.
A group of art students take up the staircase of the National Art Gallery as it is closed due to Federal government shutdown in Washington.Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
Workers secure scaffolding around a statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall in New York City as restoration work has been halted because of the federal government shutdown on Oct. 1.
Workers secure scaffolding around a statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall in New York City as restoration work has been halted because of the federal government shutdown on Oct. 1.Justin Lane / EPA
Jon Sweeney, NBC News