Smithsonian national air and space museum washington dc

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in the country. It also is home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies.

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Coming Soon: A Reimagined National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is one of the most popular museums in the world. It is currently undergoing a large-scale, multi-year renovation that will introduce all new galleries and public spaces. The first phase of the renovation was unveiled in Oct. 2022. Reserve your free timed-entry tickets today or learn more and the transformation.

  The Museum’s second facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located just south of Dulles Airport’s runways in Fairfax County, Virginia.  It is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm. Visit the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center website for more information.

Be sure to check out our guide to accessibility for DC's Smithsonian museums.
 

America By Air artist rendering

A museum that goes above and beyond

Glimpse the 1903 Wright Flyer, run your hands over moon rock and experience the larger-than-life world of aviation and space travel at the National Air and Space Museum. Since opening on the National Mall in 1976, this hub of all things flight has educated and inspired future generations of pilots and astronauts from around the world. The museum (along with its second location, the Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Va.) contains the largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. All components of human flight are on display, including related art and archival materials.

National Air and Space Museum hours and location

The museum is located on Jefferson Drive, between 4th and 7th Streets, SW., and admission is always free. Regular hours are 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The easiest way to reach the museum is via Metrorail or Metrobus. The closest Metro stop is The closest metro station is L’Enfant Plaza:  (Blue, Green, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines). The 32, 34 and 36 Metrobus routes, as well as the DC Circulator’s National Mall route, will all take you to the Mall, which you can explore in full once you’ve experienced the Air and Space Museum’s wonders. The facility is handicap accessible.

What’s inside the National Air and Space Museum?

The Air and Space Museum takes visitors to the sky, showcasing the amazing technological achievements that have progressed aviation and space exploration throughout the last century. Our fascination with flight is still alive and well, as the museum (and the accompanying Udvar-Hazy Center) is one of the most visited in the world year-after-year.

As you may imagine, the historical objects on display are fundamental to the story of flight. The 1903 Wright Flyer owns the distinction of flying the world’s first successful flight, and you can see the groundbreaking flying machine in person. There’s also Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the first aircraft to complete a nonstop flight from New York to Paris.

The Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, the only portion of the Apollo 11 spacecraft to return to Earth, is currently at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Visitors can also see the spacesuit astronaut Neil Armstrong wore during his mission to the moon and touch a sample of a lunar rock brought back from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall features the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis (the first plane to break the sound barrier), aviation and spaceflight stories and an exclusive mobile experience that will let visitors personalize their exploration like never before.

The Air and Space Museum Planetarium is closed until 2022. The IMAX Theater, Observatory, tours, and educational programs will be on hold until further notice. 

A stellar DC Cool experience

Look through the lens of a high-powered telescope and watch as celestial bodies come into focus. Held on select evenings throughout the year, nighttime stargazing at the National Air and Space Museum’s Public Observatory brings out volunteer experts (many of whom share their personal telescopes), families and couples. You might look through three telescopes, each focused on a different point in the sky.

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Are there two Smithsonian Air and space museums?