National Air and Space Museum
Written by Sarah Worthy
If you wonder about how planes fly, how they designed jet engines or how rockets managed to carry man to the moon, then the National Air and Space Museum should be your first stop in Washington D.C. Part of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of museums, the National Air and Space Museum contains the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world. It is also deeply involved in current research into the advancement of aerospace technology and the restoration of historic craft.
The museum was established in 1946 and was originally called the National Air Museum. It was housed within the Smithsonian until 1976, when Congress approved the name change to the National Air and Space Museum along with a new building, separate from the Smithsonian Institution. The new building is located on the National Mall between the Smithsonian and the Capitol. In 2003, the museum opened the Steven F. Udar-Hazy Center near Dulles airport as a place to house and restore its growing collection. There is a shuttle that will take visitors between the two locations.
The National Air and Space Museum’s collection includes over 30,000 aviation and over 9,000 space pieces, including the original Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module. The museum also boasts an IMAX theatre, a planetarium, flight simulators, and an interactive children’s section with over 50 interactive devices. It is very easy to spend an entire day in this museum as you explore the history of how man went from the earth to the sky to outer space.
Admission to both museum locations is free and they are open everyday except Christmas Day. Free docent-led tours are available daily and leave from the membership desk. Private group tours are available by advanced request and are available for groups of 20 or more.