Tour Stop: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Two dynamic locations deliver double the discovery for groups
Commemorate. Educate. Inspire. These are the tenets of the National Air and Space Museum’s mission. For nearly 50 years, the museum has celebrated the people and innovations that have taken us from merely looking at the skies to soaring above the clouds and into space; shared their stories; and helped shape the trajectory for pilots, engineers, educators, artists, and more. With two locations—the Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.,—the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum ensures there’s more in store for groups.
See space suits, space craft, and even space food on exhibit at the Destination Moon Gallery at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in D.C.
At the National Air and Space Museum, the sky is never the limit as two exciting locations guarantee double the discovery for groups.
See space suits, space craft, and even space food on exhibit at the Destination Moon Gallery at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in D.C.
Groups visiting the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center can explore two hangars: the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar and the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
Museum in Washington, D.C.
Home to the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, the flagship Museum in Washington, D.C., is centrally located on the National Mall alongside several other Smithsonian museums and inspirational monuments, memorials, and historic buildings. Here, groups explore 13 newly renovated galleries that display iconic artifacts, including the 1903 Wright Flyer, Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit, Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega, Charles Lindberg’s Spirit of St. Louis, and the World War I-era Sopwith Camel.
The museum’s multi-year renovation also brings new galleries and stories: Discover Neal V. Loving, the first African American and double amputee to receive a racing pilot’s license; Jerrie Mock, a private pilot who became the first woman to fly solo around the world in her Cessna 180; and Larry Walters, who reached new heights (16,000 feet, to be precise) after he tied 42 weather balloons to the back of a lawn chair (do not try this at home).
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Insider
NEW ENTRANCE AT THE MUSEUM IN D.C.
The entrance to the Museum in Washington, D.C., is now on the Jefferson Drive (National Mall) side of the building. Look for the beautiful new white awning.
COMING NEXT YEAR
The final seven galleries and public spaces at the Museum in Washington, D.C., will open on July 1, 2026—the museum’s 50th anniversary—just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
SCI-FI GEMS
How many iconic pop culture artifacts can you find at the Museum in Washington, D.C.? You may have no trouble finding the Tribble, but what about Spock’s ears and not one, but two R2-D2s? P.S. There are other popular culture treasures at both locations.
HIDDEN GEMS
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy has had a lifelong passion for aviation, demonstrated by the six small, hand-made models on display near the Udvar-Hazy Center’s Welcome Desk. His childhood dream ultimately made the Udvar-Hazy Center possible.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The Udvar-Hazy Center’s annual Innovations in Flight event welcomes approximately 50 planes that will be on display outside the museum for one day only. The family-friendly event takes place on Saturday, June 13, 2026. For details visit innovationsinflight.si.edu.
“We couldn’t be happier seeing the delight on the faces of visitors as they make new memories and explore our new galleries,” says Maggie Sigle, visitor services supervisor at the museum.
Free educational programming for both students and adult groups includes hands-on science demonstrations and STEM-based presentations led by the museum’s education volunteers. Daytime solar observations through sun-safe telescopes are also offered weekly (weather permitting). Reservations are not required for these activities.
With a 50-year background in naval aviation and engineering, I get to share my passion about flight and the museum’s collection. Our free tours include both the technical and cultural perspectives on the artifacts in a way that visitors can relate to—and leave inspired by. I love being a part of that process.
— Bud Holloway, museum docent, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Enhance your visit with a show at the Lockheed Martin IMAX® Theater or world-class Northrop Grumman Planetarium. Groups of 10 or more can walk right up and receive a discount to the experiences, which correspond to the themes and concepts of the museum and its new galleries.
Due to capacity limits and high demand, timed-entry passes are required for this location. Free passes for groups of 10 or more may be reserved online at s.si.edu/nasm-group-passes and are available between two months and three weeks in advance. Entry time options are for the 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. time slots.
Avoid lines at the Museum in D.C. by arriving in the bottom half of your group’s assigned hour.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Located just south of Washington Dulles International Airport’s runways, the Udvar-Hazy Center displays more than 3,000 artifacts, including more than 200 aircraft. Major attractions like Space Shuttle Discovery, the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, an Air France Concorde, and the record-setting SR-71 Blackbird thrill visitors. But it also showcases hidden gems like the Vandersarl Blériot, a flight-worthy, one-of-a-kind aircraft built from 1909–1911 by two Colorado teenagers and still flown 100 years later at air shows; or the Manned Maneuvering Unit, which was worn by astronaut Bruce McCandless on the first untethered spacewalk.
Favorite group amenities at this popular tour stop include:
- Free admission and bus parking. Reservations are not required, although advance notice is greatly appreciated.
- Free guided tours (highly recommended), educational programs, and a larger, more spacious environment for exploring.
- An extensive military aviation collection, spanning from World War I through modern day, that offers a personal connection for the thousands of active-duty military and veterans who visit each year.
- Volunteer docents who share thousands of stories groups likely won’t hear anywhere else. These free, guided tours are offered on a pre-reserved or a walk-up basis. Because there are no pre-set scripts, every tour is a unique experience.
- Discounts in the Airbus IMAX® Theater and at Shake Shack for groups of 10 or more. See si.edu/groupsales for details. Groups of four or more can also receive discounts on a walk-up basis for simulator rides and virtual reality spacewalks.
The Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center are both open daily from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., except for Dec. 25. For a list of events, new and upcoming exhibits, educational programming, accessibility, and even a museum map, visit airandspace.si.edu.
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum | airandspace.si.edu, (202) 633-2373
Holly Williamson is a public affairs specialist for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Photo credit: Jim Preston, National Air and Space Museum; Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.
