National Air & Space Museum
Overview
The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. The Museum has two display facilities. The National Mall building in Washington, D.C. has hundreds of artifacts on display including the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that visitors can touch. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center displays many more artifacts including the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay and Space Shuttle Discovery.
What You'll See
Among the many items on display is the fully restored "Enola Gay", the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, as well as the Poseidon C-3 Missile, and several cruise missiles.
All exhibits and displays are well identified to permit touring without guides. Photography is encouraged, although flash equipment will be required for most interior pictures. Both locations offer an IMAX Theater; flight simulators; food service; a museum store; free docent tours; daily educational programs; and school group tours and activities are available.
Public Tours Dates and Times
Both locations are open every day except December 25, from 10:00 am - 5:30 pm. Admission is free. Parking at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is $12.
How to Get There
The National Mall location is at Independence Ave at 4th Street, SW Washington, DC.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located at 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, Virginia. Udvar-Hazy Center parking is $15.