National Air and Space Museum

Overview

The National Air and Space Museum holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. Reopened in 2022 after a major renovation, it chronicles humanity's quest to fly from the Wright Brothers to the International Space Station.

Highlights

• Wright Flyer: The original 1903 airplane from the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk.
• Apollo 11 Command Module: Columbia, the spacecraft that carried Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins to the Moon in 1969.
• Spirit of St. Louis: Charles Lindbergh's monoplane from his solo transatlantic crossing in 1927.

History

Established by Congress in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its current building on the National Mall on July 1, 1976, the nation's bicentennial. The building was designed by Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The companion Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport houses even more aircraft, including the Space Shuttle Discovery.
• Tip 2: Free timed-entry passes are required and can be reserved online up to 30 days in advance.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.