Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum on the Mall holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world, and it is free, like all the Smithsonian museums. Here hang the original Wright Flyer, Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis and the Apollo 11 command module that carried men back from the Moon, the icons of human flight.

Background

The museum began in 1946 as the National Air Museum, and the main building near L'Enfant Plaza on the Mall followed in 1976. In 2023 it drew 3.1 million visitors, the fourth highest of any museum in the United States. Almost all the aircraft and spacecraft on show are originals or backups rather than replicas, from the Friendship 7 capsule flown by John Glenn to the Star Trek model of the Enterprise. Its second site, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport, covers 760,000 square feet, and a $360-million renovation of the Mall building, begun in 2018, had 13 galleries open by August 2024 with 10 more due by 2026.

Source: Wikipedia, "National Air and Space Museum"

What to look for

• The Wright Flyer - the aircraft of the first powered flight in 1903.
• The Apollo 11 command module - Columbia, which returned from the first Moon landing.
• The Spirit of St Louis - Lindbergh's transatlantic aircraft.
• Rockets and space - the missiles, capsules and space exploration halls.

When to go

Year-round; a fully indoor museum, free and central, ideal for any weather. A free timed entry pass may be needed in busy periods, so check ahead. It is undergoing renovation, so some halls may be closed.

What to expect

It has been undergoing a long renovation, so parts may be closed and displays changed, so check what is open. It is free but may require a timed pass in peak times. It is hugely popular with families, so it can be crowded.

Nearby

The other free Smithsonian museums line the Mall; the memorials and the Capitol are alongside.

Key facts