A Look Back At The Shutdown, In Photos

By Abbey Oldham

Published October 17, 2013 at 4:12 PM CDT

A National Park Service employee posts a sign on a barricade in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, the first day of the U.S. government shutdown.

1 of 11 — A National Park Service employee posts a sign on a barricade in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, the first day of the U.S. government shutdown.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 58 points, as the shutdown continued into its second day.

2 of 11 — A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 58 points, as the shutdown continued into its second day.

Children from a Head Start program in Washington, D.C., join supporters and members of Congress on Oct. 2 to call for an end to the shutdown and to fund the comprehensive education, health and nutrition service for low-income children and their families.

3 of 11 — Children from a Head Start program in Washington, D.C., join supporters and members of Congress on Oct. 2 to call for an end to the shutdown and to fund the comprehensive education, health and nutrition service for low-income children and their families.

4 of 11 — House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, walks out of the White House to speak to members of the media after meeting with President Obama on Oct. 2.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., speaks during a protest held by furloughed federal workers outside the Capitol on Oct. 4. The workers demanded an end to the lockout of federal employees caused by the government shutdown.

5 of 11 — House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., speaks during a protest held by furloughed federal workers outside the Capitol on Oct. 4. The workers demanded an end to the lockout of federal employees caused by the government shutdown.

Veterans visit the World War II Memorial on Oct. 5. Several veterans' groups continued to make their pilgrimages to the war memorials despite the shutdown.

6 of 11 — Veterans visit the World War II Memorial on Oct. 5. Several veterans' groups continued to make their pilgrimages to the war memorials despite the shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., flanked by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House on Oct. 10.

7 of 11 — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., flanked by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House on Oct. 10.

Jackson Blendowski, 6, peers up at the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on Oct. 13. The Statue of Liberty reopened to the public after the state of New York agreed to shoulder the costs of running the site during the shutdown.

8 of 11 — Jackson Blendowski, 6, peers up at the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on Oct. 13. The Statue of Liberty reopened to the public after the state of New York agreed to shoulder the costs of running the site during the shutdown.

President Obama talks with children and adult volunteers at Martha's Table in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The nonprofit organization helps low-income and homeless families. Many of the volunteers over the past couple weeks were furloughed federal workers.

9 of 11 — President Obama talks with children and adult volunteers at Martha's Table in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The nonprofit organization helps low-income and homeless families. Many of the volunteers over the past couple weeks were furloughed federal workers.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is surrounded by reporters after leaving the office of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Capitol Hill on Monday.

10 of 11 — Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is surrounded by reporters after leaving the office of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Capitol Hill on Monday.

Members of the House of Representatives depart after a late-night vote Wednesday on legislation to raise the debt ceiling and end the government shutdown. President Obama signed the bill just after midnight.

11 of 11 — Members of the House of Representatives depart after a late-night vote Wednesday on legislation to raise the debt ceiling and end the government shutdown. President Obama signed the bill just after midnight.

The budget fight that led to a partial federal government shutdown finally came to an end late Wednesday.

For 16 days, beginning at midnight on Oct. 1, hundreds of thousands of federal employees were told not to come to work. Museums, monuments, libraries and parks were closed across the country.

There were protests and anger from some furloughed workers, while others spent their time off volunteering for the needy. Some states sought to fill the void left by the shutdown by using their own funds to keep national parks and monuments like the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Statue of Liberty in New York open and ready for tourists.

Here are some memorable images from the past two weeks.