The museum displays the actual Spirit of St. Louis, the plane Charles Lindbergh flew on the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight.
The Friendship 7 capsule, which carried John Glenn into orbit, is on display.
The museum contains a touchable moon rock recovered during the Apollo 17 mission.
The gallery dedicated to the Wright brothers includes the original wind tunnel used to test their first wing designs.
The museum features a 'Milestones of Flight' hall that serves as the central hub connecting all other galleries.
It manages the vast majority of the Smithsonian’s extensive collection of planetary meteorites.
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is the world’s most visited aviation and space museum, featuring original artifacts from the history of flight. It houses the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. The museum is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Recent multi-year, multi-phase renovations have updated galleries to feature interactive digital displays and climate-controlled artifact protection. The collection spans from early hot air balloons to modern planetary exploration probes. It is one of the 21 museums under the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Visitors can explore galleries dedicated to aeronautics, space science, and astronomy.
The 'Milestones of Flight' hall, which provides a wide-angle view of the Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo Lunar Module suspended from the ceiling.
Book your free timed-entry passes well in advance online as they are mandatory for entry.
Start your visit at the 'Milestones of Flight' hall to orient yourself before moving to the themed galleries.
Check the museum's website for 'Ask a Scientist' sessions or gallery talks held on select days.
Attempting to see everything in one visit, as the museum is vast; prioritize specific galleries based on personal interest.
Open daily throughout the year except for December 25th.
Maintain a quiet volume in galleries, do not touch artifacts unless explicitly marked, and refrain from using flash photography on sensitive documents.
