The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum draws more visitors than any other museum in the world focused on flight and space exploration. Right in Washington, D.C., you’ll find the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft anywhere, plus a top-notch research center for aviation and space technology.
America turns to the National Air and Space Museum for the story of flight and space. The Smithsonian built this place to save the artifacts that tell how humans conquered the skies and beyond.
The museum does more than just display old planes and rockets. It’s both a research hub and a place where the public can get inspired.
You can wander through exhibits that start with the Wright brothers’ first flight and go all the way to today’s commercial space missions.
Scientists at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies dig into planetary science research right here. They work directly with NASA and play a role in real space exploration.
Kids—and let’s be honest, adults too—get to touch, tinker, and dream with interactive exhibits and programs. The museum hopes to spark the next generation of engineers, pilots, and astronauts.
Millions of people pour into the National Air and Space Museum every year. It’s a place where you can get close to legendary machines that changed the world.
When the flagship building opened on the National Mall in 1976, it immediately became an icon. You’ll see the actual 1903 Wright Flyer and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis on display.
There’s even a real moon rock from the Apollo missions that you can touch. Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 and John Glenn’s Friendship 7 spacecraft are here too.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, lets the museum show off even more. This place is big enough for giants like the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and space shuttle Discovery.
Recent renovations brought in new galleries and a fresh IMAX theater. Now, visitors get more interactive displays and a modern experience.
No other museum has a bigger collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. Thousands of items fill the museum, covering every era from early flight to today’s space missions.
You’ll find military planes, civilian aircraft, rockets, satellites, and even spacesuits. The collection ranges from tiny instruments to entire spacecraft.
Some of the oldest pieces are kites from China, dating back to the late 1800s. The newest additions come from private space companies breaking ground in commercial spaceflight.
The museum keeps growing its collection as technology moves forward. Researchers, historians, and industry folks use these artifacts to study the evolution of flight.
The Smithsonian’s aviation and space collections go all the way back to 1876, starting with Chinese kites. Over time, the collection ballooned into the world’s largest stash of flight artifacts.
Strategic acquisitions, government support, and the arrival of the space age all played a part in that growth.
Joseph Henry, the Smithsonian’s first secretary, really got things started. He loved physics and balloons, so in 1861 he invited Thaddeus Lowe to show off his hot air balloon at the Smithsonian.
That demonstration led to the first American aerial reconnaissance during the Civil War.
The first aviation artifacts came in 1876 when the Chinese Imperial Commission donated twenty kites after the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Those kites built the foundation for the Smithsonian’s aviation collection.
Early on, the collection lived in the Arts and Industries Building. After World War I, storage moved to a metal building behind the Smithsonian Castle—people called it the “Tin Shed.” It opened to the public in 1920 and stuck around for 55 years.
The Smithsonian gave Robert Goddard’s rocket research a boost in 1916. Secretary Charles Greeley Abbot handed him $5,000 for his early rocket experiments.
Later, the Smithsonian published Goddard’s influential work, “A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes.”
In 1946, President Harry Truman signed a law creating the National Air Museum. The goal was to honor aviation’s progress and save key equipment.
But Congress didn’t give any money for a building, so curators stashed World War II aircraft in an old factory in Park Ridge, Illinois.
When the Korean War broke out, storage had to move again in 1951. Curator Paul Garber managed to secure 21 acres in Silver Hill, Maryland, for a dedicated storage site. They renamed it the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in 1980.
President Lyndon Johnson expanded the museum’s mission in 1966, renaming it the National Air and Space Museum to include space artifacts. The team displayed missiles and rockets outdoors in an area called “Rocket Row” near the Arts and Industries Building.
Finally, Congress approved money in 1971 for a real building on the National Mall. Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut, led the project and oversaw construction and exhibits.
The museum opened on July 1, 1976, right in time for America’s bicentennial. Five million people visited in just six months.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened in 2003 near Dulles Airport, giving the museum a huge space for aircraft and spacecraft. Restoration workshops, archives, and extra storage all moved in.
From twenty kites, the collection exploded to over 78,000 objects. Most sit in storage, but the museum displays select pieces or loans them out to other institutions.
A major renovation kicked off in 2018. Teams started updating all twenty-three exhibitions with new spaces and better technology.
Jeff Bezos donated $200 million in 2021, the biggest gift since James Smithson’s original donation. Part of that money funds a new education center, opening up aerospace education opportunities for future generations.
On the National Mall, you’ll find the world’s most famous aerospace artifacts, like the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module. This flagship spot spans multiple floors and offers every visitor plenty of amenities.
The museum stands at the heart of the Smithsonian’s aviation and space exploration mission.
The National Mall building puts the most treasured artifacts front and center. The Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer hangs in the main gallery, showing off the world’s first powered flight.
The Apollo 11 command module Columbia sits in the space exhibits. This is the real spacecraft that brought Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins back from the moon.
Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis is here too. And yes, you really can touch a lunar rock brought back from the moon.
These artifacts mark huge moments in aerospace history. They show how far we’ve come—and hint at where space tourism might go.
You’ll enter the museum from Jefferson Drive SW, right on the Mall’s north side. Admission is free, but you’ll need a timed-entry pass.
The L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station makes getting here pretty easy.
Inside, galleries spread across multiple floors. Each one focuses on a different theme in aviation or space.
Interactive exhibits mix in with static displays, so there’s always something to do. The museum shop carries aviation and space-themed gifts, books, and educational gear.
Food areas give you a place to refuel during your visit. Educational programs run all day, with guided tours and special talks.
The building’s layout keeps major exhibits easy to see, even when crowds are big.
This location anchors the Smithsonian’s aerospace education on the National Mall. The museum teams up with the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles to show off the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft.
The National Mall building focuses on the artifacts that tell the complete story of aviation. School groups and families get hands-on with aerospace science through educational programming.
Researchers dig into aviation and space history here. The museum collaborates with NASA and private space companies to display the latest in space exploration.
Visitors see how historic moments like Apollo 11 paved the way for today’s commercial space tourism.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, just outside Washington Dulles International Airport, gives the Smithsonian a place to display full-sized aircraft and spacecraft. You’ll find icons like Space Shuttle Discovery here, along with a deep dive into aviation and space exploration history.
You’ll find the Udvar-Hazy Center at 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway in Chantilly, Virginia. It’s only a few minutes from Dulles Airport.
The museum welcomes visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It closes just once a year, on December 25th.
Admission Details:
Locating the museum near Dulles makes it easy to bring in large aircraft. Planes can taxi straight from the airport to the museum.
The center opened in 2003 as a companion to the National Mall museum. Now, the Smithsonian can display about 85 percent of its collection that used to sit in storage.
The Udvar-Hazy Center has two huge display hangars. The Boeing Aviation Hangar holds massive military bombers and commercial jets.
The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar focuses on spacecraft, including Space Shuttle Discovery.
Other highlights include:
Donald D. Engen Observation Tower gives you a bird’s-eye view of Dulles Airport. You can watch planes take off and land from up high.
Airbus IMAX Theater shows aviation and space films on a giant screen.
Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar lets you peek into real restoration work. Specialists fix and maintain aircraft while visitors watch.
The hangar setup feels authentic—almost like you’re walking through a real airfield. Walkways and balconies on three levels mean you can see the planes from every angle.
Space Shuttle Discovery anchors the space side of things. It flew 39 missions and draws crowds every day.
The Enola Gay, a B-29 Superfortress, stands out as a major piece of history. This bomber played a huge role in ending World War II.
You’ll also see the Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird, which still holds speed records from the Cold War era.
The supersonic Concorde lets you imagine crossing the Atlantic in under four hours.
The collection covers it all:
Displays group artifacts by themes like Human Spaceflight, Commercial Aviation, and Cold War Aviation. Each area adds historical context and technical details.
Space artifacts round out the collection. Satellites, space suits, and mission hardware show the story of American space exploration from Mercury to the Space Shuttle era.
The Smithsonian’s collection brings together some of the most important aircraft in the history of flight. You’ll see everything from the Wright brothers’ first powered flight to sleek modern jets.
Original military bombers like the Enola Gay sit alongside commercial planes that changed how we travel. It’s a lot to take in, honestly.
Right at the heart of early aviation history, the Wright brothers’ 1903 Flyer gets the spotlight at the museum. On December 17, 1903, this quirky-looking machine made the first powered, sustained flight at Kitty Hawk.
The Flyer’s simple, wooden frame and fabric wings might surprise you. It’s wild to think the basic engine only produced 12 horsepower.
You can get up close to see the details. The museum doesn’t just stop with the Wrights, though.
Nearby, the Spirit of St. Louis hangs above—a nod to Charles Lindbergh’s famous solo trip across the Atlantic in 1927. Early aviation exhibits really show just how fast technology moved; in just twenty years, planes went from fragile contraptions to complex machines for war and travel.
The Wright Flyer sits in the main hall, reminding everyone how it all started. Every modern plane, in some way, owes a debt to this odd, revolutionary craft.
The B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay stands out among the World War II aircraft here. This bomber dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945, a moment that changed the world.
You’ll find the Enola Gay in the Udvar-Hazy Center’s huge aviation hangar. The team restored it completely, so you can see it as it looked back then.
Fighter planes like the P-51 Mustang and German Messerschmitt Bf 109 also make an appearance. These machines highlight how quickly military aviation advanced during the war.
The museum doesn’t glorify war but shows why these planes mattered. Displays break down their roles in battles and how they pushed technology forward.
Most of the WWII planes are set up so you can walk around and really take in their size. The hangar’s open space makes it easy to appreciate these giants.
The Douglas DC-3, displayed here, pretty much changed commercial flying in the 1930s. Suddenly, passenger flights became both profitable and accessible to regular folks.
Jet aviation took off with military aircraft, but these designs soon shaped commercial planes too. Early jets on display show how turbine engines made passenger service possible.
The Boeing 247D and other early airliners tell the story of how flying evolved from carrying mail to transporting people. You can check out the original cabins and navigation gear.
Modern exhibits feature jet engines and simulators. These let you see how today’s jets hit high marks for fuel efficiency and safety.
It’s honestly wild—just thirty years separate the first prop-driven airliners from the jets we know now. That leap made global travel a normal part of life.
The National Air and Space Museum packs in America’s most important spacecraft and artifacts from human space exploration missions. You can actually see the vehicles that took astronauts to space and check out real gear from historic missions.
Space Shuttle Discovery takes center stage in the museum’s space collection. This real orbiter flew 39 missions between 1984 and 2011.
Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990. The shuttle also carried out key International Space Station assembly flights.
You can walk all the way around Discovery and see the authentic heat shield tiles up close. The exhibit keeps the payload bay doors open, so you get a sense of how astronauts deployed satellites and did spacewalks.
Interactive displays break down the shuttle’s engines and maneuvering systems. There’s a lot to geek out about.
Key Discovery Mission Highlights:
The museum showcases real equipment astronauts used on missions. These things tell the story of how people managed to live and work in space.
The Apollo 11 command module Columbia sits in a prime spot. It brought Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins home from the moon in 1969.
You can spot the scorch marks from reentry. Spacesuits from different eras are on display too, from Mercury and Gemini to Apollo and beyond.
Modern suits show how much mobility and protection have improved. Personal items—like food containers and hygiene kits—give you a peek into daily life in orbit.
Communication gear and other small objects connect visitors to the very human side of space travel.
The museum puts a spotlight on spacecraft that pushed human exploration further. Each one marks a big leap in technology.
There’s an Apollo Lunar Module replica you can get close to. You’ll see both the ascent and descent stages, plus the crazy-detailed control panels.
Mercury and Gemini capsules are here too. These tiny spacecraft carried America’s early astronauts into orbit.
Standing next to them, you realize just how cramped things got. It’s eye-opening.
Notable Spacecraft Features:
Backup spacecraft and test vehicles add more technical detail. These exhibits explain how engineers tested everything before sending people up.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum features a sprawling collection of rockets and missiles. You’ll see the journey from early Chinese gunpowder rockets to today’s massive space launch vehicles.
These exhibits show how rocket technology changed both warfare and civilian space exploration during the 20th century.
For almost 900 years after their invention in China, rockets barely changed. Early designs acted as simple artillery, powered by gunpowder.
Then the 1920s rolled around. Visionaries in the US, Germany, and the Soviet Union started building liquid-fuel rockets with their eyes on space, not just war.
Robert Goddard led the way. His liquid oxygen container, which you can see at the museum, shows the behind-the-scenes work that made launches possible.
Within just twenty years, rockets began to reshape politics. Countries built long-range missiles for offense and defense.
Key developments included:
The same tech that made weapons also powered space exploration. Launch vehicles carried satellites, telescopes, robots, and people beyond Earth.
The museum’s rocket collection covers both military missiles and civilian spacecraft. These artifacts represent vehicles built for two main reasons: spaceflight and weaponry.
Guided missiles with air-breathing propulsion systems have a big presence here. Mid-20th-century engineers adapted rocket tech for all sorts of missions.
You’ll see surface-to-surface intercontinental missiles that played a huge role during the Cold War. These weapons could travel vast distances with surprising accuracy.
Space launch vehicles tell another side of the story. These rockets kicked off the satellite era and sent people into space.
The collection really drives home how rocket technology serves both military and civilian needs. Military funding often led the way, but space programs benefited from those breakthroughs.
Notable categories include:
The National Air and Space Museum operates sprawling, climate-controlled hangars. Hundreds of aircraft and spacecraft fill these spaces, including the aviation and space hangars at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
They also have advanced storage and conservation labs tucked away behind the scenes.
The Boeing Aviation Hangar stretches across three stories, with about 28,000 square feet per floor. It’s an enormous space packed with historic aircraft—from fragile early flyers to modern jets.
You can walk through open layouts, with planes suspended overhead and parked on the floor. The hangar keeps temperature and humidity steady to protect fragile materials like fabric wings and old metals.
Key Aircraft on Display:
The design lets you see aircraft from all sorts of angles. Elevated walkways offer a bird’s-eye view, while ground-level paths bring you up close to cockpits and engines.
The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar holds the museum’s top space artifacts. Spacecraft that made history in America’s space program fill this spot.
Space Shuttle Discovery grabs your attention right away. The orbiter flew 39 missions and spent a full year in space before retiring.
You’ll also find:
Climate controls keep things safe for delicate materials like heat shields and electronics. The hangar’s tall ceilings make room for full-size rockets and spacecraft in flight-ready setups.
The museum runs a 124,000-square-foot Collections Center with specialized storage. Two environmental chambers offer cool and cold storage for artifacts that need extra care.
Advanced HVAC Systems Include:
The facility earned LEED Gold for energy efficiency. Staff use these areas to prep exhibits, do research, and keep over 60,000 artifacts in good shape.
Smaller rooms protect documents, photos, and delicate instruments. The center also acts as swing space during big renovations at the main museum.
The Center for Earth and Planetary Studies leads research at the National Air and Space Museum. Scientists here dive into planetary science and geology, building huge image archives from space missions and digging into the mysteries of planetary surfaces.
Their work shapes how we explore space in the future.
The Center for Earth and Planetary Studies runs as a scientific research unit focused on planetary and terrestrial geology. Founded in 1972, the team digs into three main areas.
Planetary geology sits at the core of their mission. Scientists study the geology of planets and moons using data from space missions.
They analyze volcanic features, tectonics, and surface changes across different worlds. Remote sensing technology lets researchers study surfaces from afar.
They pull data from satellites, manned flights, and robotic missions to learn about planets we can’t touch. Comparative planetology helps scientists figure out how planets form and change.
They compare volcanoes and tectonic features between Earth and other planets. This work uncovers the shared processes that shape our solar system.
Field studies in dry regions on Earth give clues about similar places on Mars and beyond. It’s all about connecting the dots between planets, one discovery at a time.
The center runs the Planetary Image Facility, which has one of the most extensive collections of planetary imagery for researchers. You’ll find hardcopy images here, from the early Ranger missions in the 1960s all the way to recent Mars missions.
Researchers use this image collection for a range of projects. They create detailed geological maps of planetary surfaces and reference these images for their work worldwide.
Active research programs dig into surface mapping and geological analysis. Scientists map out the features of planets and moons, then look at how wind, water, and other forces have shaped those surfaces over time.
The center supports its own research and collaborates with outside scientists. Researchers get hands-on with space mission data, making discoveries about how planets form and change. They publish new findings that push our understanding of planetary development forward.
Space mission support is also a big part of what they do. Researchers at the center share geological expertise with ongoing and future space missions. They help pick landing sites and interpret the data coming back from spacecraft exploring the solar system.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum brings educational experiences to life through expert-led lectures and interactive family programs. These activities connect visitors with aerospace professionals and offer hands-on learning for all ages.
The museum hosts lecture series with top aerospace engineers, astronauts, and space industry experts. Presentations dive into commercial spaceflight, NASA missions, and new space technologies.
Monthly Speaker Series brings in folks from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and others. Attendees get a look at spacecraft design, launch operations, and the future of space tourism straight from the people making it happen.
The Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory runs evening astronomy programs. Visitors use real telescopes, while museum educators explain what’s happening in the sky and talk about current space missions.
Special events line up with big space milestones. Launch viewing parties, mission anniversaries, and spacecraft arrivals give the public a chance to join in real-time space excitement.
The museum’s STEM in 30 webcast series targets middle schoolers with Emmy-nominated educational content. The program makes space science approachable through experiments and interviews with experts.
Family Science Night invites kids and parents to try hands-on activities together. They build model rockets, test flight principles, and learn how spacecraft propulsion works.
School partnership programs link museum educators with classroom teachers. Professional development workshops help teachers add space science to their lessons with museum and NASA resources.
The Teacher Innovator Institute trains educators to blend museum learning with classroom teaching. Participants get curriculum materials and support for bringing space education into schools.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum runs advanced conservation programs to protect over 70,000 aerospace artifacts. Their work combines scientific methods and restoration techniques to keep everything from early airplanes to modern spacecraft in good shape for the future.
Restoration happens at several specialized facilities. The Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland acts as the main storage spot for the collection.
The Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia handles most of the conservation work. They restore everything from 18th-century decorative arts to modern tech hardware.
Advanced Equipment and Analysis
The lab uses some pretty advanced tools to examine artifacts:
These tools let conservators figure out what artifacts are made of and help them plan the right preservation strategies. Every examination uncovers unique historical details and guides specific treatment plans.
About 20 full-time conservators and 20 volunteers make up the restoration team. They work on projects ranging from World War II aircraft to space shuttle components and satellite systems.
Specialized professionals manage the conservation work. The core team includes a chief conservator and four objects conservators, plus ten more conservators working on the museum’s renovation.
Training and Fellowship Programs
The museum brings in two post-graduate fellows for two-year stints. These fellows get hands-on experience with aerospace artifact conservation while supporting ongoing projects.
Contracted specialist conservators join the team for specific projects that need special expertise. This flexible staffing ensures the right people handle each restoration challenge.
Preservation Standards and Methods
The team follows strict scientific protocols to keep artifacts intact. They create new treatments designed for aerospace materials and components.
Materials analysis helps with documentation and long-term planning. Each piece gets care based on its makeup, age, and historical significance.
The conservation program keeps detailed records of all treatments and findings. These records support future research and preserve knowledge about restoration and artifact conditions.
You’ll want to plan ahead to get the most out of your visit to the National Air and Space Museum. Admission is free, but most activities are first-come, first-served. Knowing about the facility’s accessibility options and tours can help you make the most of your time.
The National Air and Space Museum opens every day with free admission. Usual hours run from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, but these can shift on federal holidays or during special events.
Weekday mornings are usually quieter, so early risers get a more relaxed experience. Weekends and school holidays get busy, especially with families coming for the space exhibits.
The IMAX theater needs a separate ticket, which costs extra and often sells out during busy times. Buying IMAX tickets online ahead of time or right when you arrive is a smart move.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport has similar hours but offers a whole different vibe. It’s where you’ll see the really big stuff, like Space Shuttle Discovery, that doesn’t fit in the main Washington building.
Parking near the National Mall can be tough, especially during busy seasons. The Smithsonian Metro station is usually the best bet for getting there. If you’re driving to the Udvar-Hazy Center, you’ll find plenty of free parking.
The museum has strong accessibility features for visitors with mobility needs. You can borrow a wheelchair at no cost at the information desk, and elevators and ramps make all exhibits reachable.
Guided tours add a lot to the experience, offering expert insights into major exhibits like the Wright Brothers’ plane, the Apollo 11 command module, and space exploration milestones.
Audio tours let you explore at your own pace. These programs give detailed info about exhibits while giving you freedom to wander.
Knowledgeable docents are always around in the exhibit halls. They field questions and share extra details about the aircraft and spacecraft on display.
Special accessibility services include assistive listening devices and large-print materials for visitors with hearing or vision needs. Service animals are welcome everywhere, and quiet spaces offer rest for anyone who needs a break.
People often ask about exhibitions, donations, tours, educational resources, hours, and accessibility at this top aviation and space museum.
The museum has two locations with changing exhibitions. The main building on the National Mall in Washington, DC displays aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and rockets in permanent and temporary exhibits.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport shows off larger artifacts like the Concorde and Space Shuttle Discovery. This location opened in 2003 and houses the museum’s biggest displays.
Exhibitions rotate throughout the year. Check the museum’s website for the latest exhibition listings and special displays at both sites.
The museum has strict standards for accepting artifacts related to aviation and space history. Donors need to contact the collections department to discuss their items.
Staff evaluate donations for historical significance, condition, and how well they fit the current collections. Items have to meet preservation standards and add to the museum’s educational mission.
Documentation proving an artifact’s history and importance helps donation applications. The museum can’t accept every item due to storage limits and collection priorities.
The museum offers several tour options at both the National Mall and Udvar-Hazy Center locations. Tours provide expert context and background for the exhibits.
Visitors can book tours through the museum’s website or by contacting visitor services. Group tours need advance reservations and may have minimum size requirements.
Self-guided tours are available through mobile apps and printed guides at both locations. These help visitors explore at their own speed.
The museum delivers educational programming for teachers and parents. These resources bring aviation and space content to learners wherever they are.
Virtual programs allow remote participation in museum activities and exhibits. Students can use interactive content and educational materials online.
Teacher resources include lesson plans, educational videos, and curriculum materials that match academic standards. The museum also runs professional development workshops for teachers interested in aerospace topics.
The National Mall location requires free timed-entry passes for everyone. These passes help control crowd sizes and keep the visit comfortable.
Visitors should reserve their passes ahead of time on the museum’s website. The busiest times are weekends, holidays, and summer, when demand peaks.
The Udvar-Hazy Center has different hours and entry rules than the main museum. Check current schedules before planning your trip to either location.
The museum takes accessibility seriously and wants everyone to enjoy its exhibitions and facilities. Both locations follow federal accessibility rules and guidelines.
If you have specific needs, you can reach out to the museum before your visit. Staff members are happy to talk through options for wheelchair access, visual aids, or other types of assistance.
On the museum’s website, you’ll find detailed accessibility info for both the National Mall and Udvar-Hazy Center. That way, you can plan your visit to fit what works best for you.
