Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Washington, DC

Address:Independence Ave. at 6th St., SW
Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 633-1000

Next time you're in our nation's capital, make sure you dedicate an afternoon to exploring the fantastic National Air and Space Museum. By far the most popular of all the Smithsonian museums, the Air and Space Museum contains the largest collection of museum aircraft and spacecraft in the world! As a science center, it contains an amazing collection of up-to-date research in aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science, geology, and geophysics. In short, all the science that made it possible for man to reach the moon is available in the museum and at your fingertips.

As a work of architecture, the National Air and Space Museum is one of Washington D.C.'s most significant displays of modern architecture. Designed by Gyo Obata, the building is comprised of four tubes connecting three atriums; a must-see for any student of modern architecture that finds him or herself in the capital.

The museum houses many important relics of air and space flight, including a replica of Pioneer 10, the first space probe to leave the solar system, The original Spirit of St. Louis, the plane that took Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic, and the original Flyer, the plane that started it all, that took the Wright brothers into the air for the first time at Kitty Hawk. There's even a flight simulator when you can do barrel rolls in simulated World War Two fighters!

Admission to the National Air and Space Museum is free. Many of the shows and exhibits are seasonal, so call ahead to plan your visit.

The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It is also a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics.