National Air and Space Museum
- Address:6th Street and Independence Avenue SW, National Mall, Washington D.C.
- Hours:Open daily 10am - 5:30pm
- Admission:Free
12:45 AM Monday, May 28
Passing clouds. Mild.
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Each year, eight million people visit the cavernous halls of the National Air and Space Museum, for this popular Smithsonian museum is one of the best for kids of all ages, full of interactivity and things that go fast, boom, and swoosh!
The museum's 23 galleries trace the history of aviation and space exploration through interactive displays and historic artifacts. Walk through the DC-7 cockpit, check out the WWII permanent exhibit, and take the controls on the flight stimulator ride. Alighted airplanes and soaring spacecraft abound, including the Wright Brothers' Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis and the Apollo 11 command module. The Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater offers a rotating list of films shown throughout the day. Alternative shows at the Albert Einstein Planetarium send viewers hurtling through space on tours of the universe.
The museum has a second exhibition facility, the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport. Visitors can wander across suspended walkways and airborne bridges to get a close-up view of hundreds of fighter planes, space ships and other flying machines suspended from the 10-story ceiling. Together the two sites comprise the world's largest collection of aviation and space artifacts.
Latest Reviews All National Air and Space Museum Reviews »
Three 50 something year old sisters and Segways, sounds comical, and it was. Our tour guide Lisa handled our shenanigans with humor, knowledge and lots of patience. Lisa's instructions were easy to follow and she soon had us up and running. What an awesome way to see our Nation's Capital. We stopped frequently so Lisa could share her obvious love of Washington with us. I highly recommend taking the time and trying a Segway tour, it's an experience you won't soon forget.
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FANTASTIC-Our first driver was GREAT, sorry I have forgotten his name but he picked us up
between 11 and 12 that morning, but both drivers were very informative and friendly! I have already recommended your services.
Practical Info
The National Air and Space Museum is located on the west end of the National Mall, steps from other Smithsonian museums. All museums are easily accessible by metro and bus. The museum's cafeteria, the Wright Place, serves food from three popular American chains. Its three-level gift shop is the largest Smithsonian store. Whatever you do, don't miss the astronauts' ice-cream, which can be purchased in the museum gift shop.
If you plan to visit the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport, you can drive or take the shuttle bus, which transports guests from the Air & Space Museum to the Dulles airport facility four times per day.
