National Air and Space Museum

About

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum chronicles the full arc of human flight, from the first powered aircraft of the early twentieth century to lunar missions, space probes, and modern aviation. Its collection includes some of the most significant artifacts in the history of technology: the Wright brothers' 1903 Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, and a moon rock visitors can touch. The museum's exhibits trace the science and engineering behind aviation and spaceflight in concrete, accessible terms. Visitors can explore how aircraft generate lift, how rockets overcome gravity, and how astronauts navigate and survive in space. The Planetarium offers immersive sky shows, and large-format films in the adjoining theater bring space exploration to life on an enormous scale. A companion facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, houses an even larger collection — including the Space Shuttle Discovery — in massive hangars designed to accommodate full-scale aircraft. For students and families interested in aerospace, engineering, or the history of exploration, the museum offers a depth and density of primary source material that is impossible to replicate in any classroom. Admission at both the DC mall location and the Udvar-Hazy Center is always free.

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