Visiting the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum: What You Should Know

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington DC is one of the most visited museums in the world.

Home to some of history’s most legendary aircraft and spacecraft, the museum offers interesting air and space crafts including the Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 Command Module, and even a moon rock you can touch.

If you need help with insider tips or just planning your first trip, this guide will walk you through the ways to make the most of your experience.

✈️ Looking for even more air & spacecraft? The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Air and Space Museum, located 45 minutes away in Chantilly, Virginia, has an even LARGER collection!

Photos by Valerie Moore unless otherwise stated.

Introduction to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

With 1,900,000 million visitors tallied for 2024, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world. It has all kinds of flight and space artifacts, some of it with origins from over 100 years ago, which makes it a visit full of history and culture.

History & Significance

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum was originally known as an air museum only, when a new arm of the Smithsonian Institution established in 1946 as the National Air Museum. 

Although not created until 1946, its history traces back with some of its artifact collection first acquired after the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Some of the museum’s first artifacts were twenty kites from the Chinese Imperial Commission and the Stringfellow steam engine in 1889. This first flight collection was what started the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world.

The museum began with a foresight of preserving each one of every type of aircraft used in the Army, and ideally foreign aircraft too. In 1946, President Harry Truman approved the Smithsonian National Air Museum to “to memorialize the development of aviation; collect, preserve, and display aeronautical equipment; and provide educational material for the study of aviation.”

However, the legislation did not include a formal space dedicated for the museum’s artifacts collection in its early years. With no proper budget for housing the museum’s artifacts, its collection was located in the Arts and Industries Building or the “Tin Shed”, located adjacent to the Smithsonian Castle. 

For the next decades, a formal site for the future museum was continuously debated. The aircraft industry was further developing, making storage for aircraft artifacts a continuous problem for the museum. Prefabricated buildings were built to temporarily house these artifacts, like the expanded metal hut behind the Smithsonian Castle in 1920 and several in Silver Hill, Md., which Paul Garber initiated to save the collection from the Korean War emergency in 1951.

It was not long after when the spacecraft collection was added during the space race in 1950s-1960s. When Congress realized the need for a world-class museum for both aviation and space, funding was approved for an official exhibition space on the National Mall, renaming it as the National Air and Space Museum.

Timeline of events

• 1879: First aircraft collection started with a set of beautiful kites from 
• 1889: Smithsonian Museum acquired its first aviation artifact, the Stringfellow steam engine
• 1946: The National Air Museum was founded
• 1916: It acquired the original 1903 Wright Flyer from Orville Wright, now classified as one of its most treasured artifacts today
• 1966: President Lyndon Johnson approved changing the name of National Air Museum to National Air and Space Museum to signify both aircraft and spacecraft developments
• 1971: Funding for construction was approved 
• 1972: Groundbreaking and construction of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum at the National Mall
• 1975: Installation of aircraft and spacecraft artifacts began
• 1976: The Museum opened to the public during America’s bicentennial year
• 1993: Extension of the National Air & Space Museum at Washington Dulles International Airport called the Udvar-Hazy Center
• 2015: Became the most visited museum in America, housing over 60,000 artifacts and 20,000 cubic feet of archival materials

Planning Your Visit

As one of the most popular attractions in Washington DC, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will be crowded most of the time, so a little planning goes a long way. Here’s what you need to know before you go:

Opening Hours & Best Times to Visit

The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, except on December 25. The biggest crowds are often during weekends and early afternoon, especially on spring break, summer, and holiday weekends. Plan your times accordingly if you’re visiting during those times.

Admission & Ticketing

Entry to the museum is completely free, but like the many museums in DC that require reservations, you have to reserve a timed-entry pass ahead of time.

These can be reserved online through the Smithsonian website and tend to book up fast, especially during peak tourist seasons. If you didn’t plan ahead, same-day passes sometimes become available in the morning, so check the website early. 

Sometimes the museum releases unreserved or extra passes, but it’s highly unlikely, especially during peak season. If you need some assurance, plan and book for a time-entry ticket to secure your visit. If this is a museum you really want to see, I wouldn’t suggest just showing up and hoping for the best. 

How to Get to the Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is conveniently located in the National Mall at the heart of Washington DC, making it easily accessible by public transportation. Its exact address is 6th St. and Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560, near the US Capitol and other iconic landmarks in the National Mall. 

By Metro

Metro is the best way to get to the Air & Space Museum. It is just a few blocks away from 2 metro stations and are serviced by all 5 lines:

• L’Enfant Plaza (Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow Lines)
• Smithsonian Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines) 

If you’re getting off at L’Enfant, follow the signs to the Air & Space Museum exit (Exit A). It’s a big station with a lot of exits that can put you far from where you want to be, so the exit you use is important. Once you exit, go north on 7th Street towards the National Mall.

If you’re not used to taking public transportation, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s a guide on understanding the map to help.

By Bus

The Circulator bus line is no longer in service, but DC has a pretty expansive bus network. The Air & Space Museum is serviced by 10 within 0.10 miles (the length of a city block). You can find the closest stops at Independence Avenue SW & 7th Street SW and Jefferson Drive SW & 7th Street SW.

By Car

If you’re driving, you’ll need to find a nearby parking garage since there’s no on-site parking. Parkwhiz and SpotHero are apps that you can use to book parking ahead of time for peace of mind.

But honestly, public transit is your best bet if you want to skip the hassles of finding parking and going through traffic. DC parking is notoriously bad, especially around the Mall.

The museum is easy to reach via Metro or Metrobus, and since it’s right at the center of the National Mall, it’s a short walk from other major DC landmarks.

Must-See Exhibits & Attractions

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum houses the most legendary and early forms of aviation and spacecraft, making it so huge that you’ll have to plan on which exhibitions to prioritize, or else you’ll miss the best parts of the museum’s attractions. With so much to explore, here are the top highlights you won’t want to miss:

Aviation Hall: The Evolution of Flight

The Aviation Hall is where you’ll see the aircraft that changed both the aircraft industry and the world’s history.

• The Wright Flyer (1903): The first successful powered aircraft in 1903, invented by brothers and American Aviation pioneers, Orville and Wilbur Wright. Its first flight reached 36 meters high for 12 seconds.
• Spirit of St. Louis: The plane that Charles Lindbergh flew on a first non-stop solo transatlantic flight in 1927, which travelled from New York to Paris, France. Flying this plane made him a world hero after arriving in Paris.
• Bell X-1: This is the sleek orange jet that Chuck Yeager piloted, the legendary aircraft that travelled faster than the speed of sound and broke the sound barrier in 1947.
• Boeing 747 Nose Section: If you ever wondered what the inside of a jumbo jet looks like, you can peek a look at the cutaway section inside one of the world’s most famous airliners.

Space Exploration & The Race to the Moon

This section of the museum highlights NASA’s most historic missions and the incredible achievements of the Space Race.

• Apollo 11 Command Module “Columbia”: The actual spacecraft and living quarters that carried Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the moon in 1969.
• Lunar Touch Rock: You can touch a moon piece sample made of basalt rock, collected during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
• Space Suits of Astronauts: See spacesuits worn by NASA astronauts like Neil Armstrong’s iconic Apollo 11 space suit, the first American spacesuit in Space, and Ed White’s helmet. The dust you see? That’s moon dust!
• Sputnik 1 Replica: A replica of the Soviet satellite that launched in 1957, the first artificial satellite launched on Earth and kicking off the Space Race between the US and the USSR.

Special Attractions & Hidden Gems

Compared to Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum is less interactive. But beyond the major exhibits, the museum still offers immersive experiences that can bring some thrill in exploring how aviation and space developed.

• Albert Einstein Planetarium – Watch air and space phenomena and the cosmos with shows that tour the universe. Tickets are only available on-site, unless you go by group, where tickets are available for advanced reservations.
• IMAX Theater – Shows space and aviation-themed films (ticket purchase required). The theater is currently closed for renovations, but will reopen July 28, 2025. They show many educational videos in the IMAX, but the real highlight is being able to see sci-fi movies in the Air & Space Museum late at night (Editor’s Note: I saw one of the Predator movies here and it was amazing).

Visitor Tips & Insider Advice

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

• If you’re planning a full day of sightseeing, the National Air and Space Museum is a great spot to end your tour on the National Mall.
• The average time spent by visitors is around 2-3 hours.
• If you have a timed-entry pass, you will still need to wait in line, but there are ways to minimize wait time:
  • The line is for ticket holders waiting for their designated entry time.
  • You won’t be let in early, but your pass is valid for an hour after the printed time.
  • If your time is 10:00 AM, consider arriving 15-20 minutes later (e.g., 10:15-10:20 AM). By then, the initial rush has usually cleared, and you can walk right in.
• If you’re bringing kids and family, check out the “How Things Fly” exhibit for a hands-on, interactive space where kids (and adults!) can experiment with the science of flight.
• Photography is allowed, but tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited inside the museum.

Accessibility at the Air & Space Museum

• The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with sensory-friendly resources available for visitors with autism or sensory sensitivities.
• Visitors with disability hang tags or plates can park for free at DC metered spaces at the accessible entrance on Independence Ave, SW. However, these spots are in high demand and are likely to be taken. Plan on dropping off your group member and parking in a parking garage.
• If a personal care attendant is needed to accompany visitors, they must have a free timed-entry pass.
• Service animals or trained service dogs who assist visitors with disabilities are welcome in the museum

Dining Options at the Museum

The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum has a grab-and-go cafe inside called Mars Café, opened at 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. To get there, go down the lower level and you’ll see a full espresso bar with sandwiches, paninis, and salads available. Prices aren’t cheap, but they’re in line with many other DC restaurants.

If you want more food options, there are other places to eat nearby:

• Bar Americano: Local favorite Sonny’s Pizza opened up this location on the Mall outside of the Air & Space Museum that offers coffee, Detroit-style pizza (including gluten free), and natural wines. This is open seasonally in the warmer months.
• Sami’s Hot Dog Cart: A DC staple, this is the highest rated hot dog in DC with thousands of 5 star reviews. A favorite of tourists as well as local workers who have been loyal customers for decades. Sami is there year round.
• National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden: The Sculpture Garden has an indoor and outdoor seating restaurant, and is a good spot for visitors to rest.
• Cascades Café (Inside the National Gallery of Art): A good option for a sit-down meal, with a waterfall feature that can be seen through the windows.
• Picnic on the National Mall: Plenty of open lawns and shaded spots where you can enjoy a picnic, this is the most cost-effective option.
• Food Trucks: By and large, this will be one of your worst option. The food is low quality, and many (illegally) do not post their prices in an effort to price gouge tourists. There are some exceptions to the low quality, but because they’re mobile and change, it’s hard to give advice on which ones to visit. If you do visit, make sure you know the prices when ordering.

Museum Renovation Updates: What’s Open, Closed, and Coming Soon

While visitors can still tour the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, there is a limited set of experiences available due to its ongoing renovations. Since 2018, a top-to-bottom transformation has been ongoing to improve visitor experiences and maintain its standard as one of the world’s visited museums.

What’s Open Now

Its popular exhibit areas remain open to the public, including:

• Destination Moon
• Early Flight
• Nation of Speed
• One World Connected
• The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age
• Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery
• We All Fly
• Thomas W. Haas We All Fly

Since its renovations in 2018, many improvements have already been added to the museum, including eight brand-new galleries and 1,400+ new artifacts that just opened to the public in October 2022.

What’s Closed

20 galleries were sent for complete transformation at the start of the renovation process, with over 5,200 artifacts moved, preserved, and reinstalled. Half or limited areas of the museum will only be opened for tours pending renovation, and full reopening won’t happen until July 1, 2026 or when all 20 galleries are complete.

Until then, these exhibit areas remain off-limits for tours:

• Apollo to the Moon
• Looking at Earth
• America by Air
• Sea-Air Operations
• Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Golden Age of Flight
• World War II Aviation
• Jet Aviation
• Legend, Memory, and the Great War in the Air
• Other East Wing galleries not yet renovated (approx. 10 galleries total)

What’s Coming Soon

Eight new galleries were revealed last October 2022, and five more will open this year on July 28. The remaining 7 galleries will form part of the museum’s final gallery opening to be revealed on its 50th anniversay and America’s 250th birthday.

This year on July 28, the museum will reopen their redesigned Jefferson Drive entrance, the awaited Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, and these five new exhibits:

• Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
• Futures in Space
• Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight
• World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation
• Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery

Next year on July 1, favorite exhibits like the Spirit of St. Louis, Apollo Lunar Module LM-2, X-15 rocket plane, and John Glenn’s Mercury Friendship 7 will be reopened.

The final gallery openings will include:

• Textron How Things Fly
• At Home in Space
• RTX Living in the Space Age Hall
• Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air
• Modern Military Aviation
• U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe
• Flight and the Arts Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Why You Should Visit the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Walking through the history of aircraft, science and the future of space all at once at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is an experience you don’t want to miss. Standing inches away from the first airplane built, first fastest aircraft created, and rocket ships that went to the moon and back is a sci-fi dream for all kids and adults alike. 

If you love flying, imagining space, or just curious about air and space history, this is your place to go. If you need more information planning your visit, you can call the Smithsonian office directly at 202-633-2214 or leave a message for their visitor services.