Overview
Located south of downtown at King County International Airport (Boeing Field), this is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. It provides an awe-inspiring look at the history of aviation and space exploration.
Highlights
- Aviation Pavilion: An enormous open-air gallery housing commercial and military jets, including a Concorde and the first 747.
- Space Gallery: Features a full-scale mock-up of a NASA Space Shuttle trainer.
- Red Barn: The original manufacturing facility for the Boeing Company, now a historic exhibit.
History
The museum began in 1965 to preserve significant aircraft. It evolved around the preservation of the Boeing Red Barn, the birthplace of the modern aerospace giant.
Visitor Tips
- Transit: It's quite far from downtown; plan your transit carefully (bus or car).
- Great Gallery: Don't miss the dramatic displays of planes suspended in mid-air inside the massive glass gallery.
- Duration: 3–4 hours.