The National Air and Space Museum, the most-visited museum in the world, is home to hundreds of must-see icons. On display is the first Wright brothers airplane, the Apollo 11 command module and many other historic finds, including the space suits worn by the first humans to go to the moon. The museum's other location, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, near Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia, showcases still more one-of-a-kind items, including the space shuttle Enterprise and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay.
"Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist On Another World" (Gallery 211) is on view July 16, 2009, to Jan. 13, 2010, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first Apollo moon landing and features paintings by artist and Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean.
"Universal Dimensions: The Space Art of Wang Ming" (Gallery 104) closes Oct 9. Since leaving China in 1951, artist Wang Ming, a former air traffic controller, has strived to make art that builds a bridge of understanding between cultures. Despite Ming's use of nontraditional materials—such as fabric interfacing—his art is nonetheless rooted in traditional Chinese forms and calligraphy.
"Milestones of Flight" (100): Many of the most famous air and space vehicles in history are found just steps inside the doors of the museum. Look up to see Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, which he piloted for the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight; the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound; and the North American X-15, the fastest aircraft ever flown. At floor level, touch a real moon rock and check out the space capsules Friendship 7, Gemini IV and Apollo 11.
"America by Air" (102): Packed with historic airplanes, including a Douglas DC-3, a Ford Tri-Motor and a Curtiss JN-4D Jenny, this gallery explores the history of passenger air travel in the United States. Step inside two airplanes—a Boeing 747 and a Douglas DC- 7—and experience an A320 cockpit simulation of a takeoff and landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Interactive flight and ride simulators (103): Control the action. Climb aboard a simulator and try your hand at aerial combat. Seating for two, $8 per person. Or choose an adventure aboard a ride simulator and experience aviation ride films such as "Space Walk," "Cosmic Coaster" "F-18 Experience" or "Wings." Seating for eight, $7 per person.
Museum store (101): Find books for all ages, science kits, toys, clothing, collectibles—unique items that can't be purchased anywhere but here.
"Golden Age of Flight" (105): Learn the stories of record-breaking aviators like Roscoe Turner, Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Doolittle, who thrilled aviation fans with their derring-do in the period between the two world wars. The centerpiece here is the Hughes H-1 racer, in which Howard Hughes recorded world speed records in 1935 and 1937.
"Jet Aviation" (106): In 1939, a pioneering type of aircraft engine developed by a German engineer ushered in a new age in aviation. Don't miss two jet-age milestones, the German Messerschmitt Me 262 and the Lockheed XP-80 Lulu-Belle.
"Early Flight" (107): See the world's first military airplane, the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, and the 1894 Lilienthal glider.
"How Things Fly" (109): Dozens of kid-friendly interactive gadgets teach the four principles of flight—weight, lift, thrust and drag. Activities abound: find out your weight on the moon, hop into the cockpit of a Cessna, or learn to make an award-winning paper airplane.
"Looking at Earth" (110): Study the ingenious ways humans have struggled to better view the planet. See a tiny 1903 camera that could be strapped to a pigeon, as well as the Cold War era's U-2 spy plane.
"Explore the Universe" (111): Examine technology used to peer farther and farther into the cosmos, from antique astrolabes to today's telescopes.
"Lunar Exploration Vehicles" (112): This gallery displays a constellation of vehicles used for lunar exploration. Dominating the space is an authentic lunar module, the second one built for the Apollo program. Six more like it landed astronauts on the moon.
"Moving Beyond Earth" (113) Opens September 2009. Explore the opportunities and challenges of human space flight on the shuttle, space station and beyond.
"Space Race" (114): A giant black-and-white V-2 rocket marks the entrance to the gallery, home to a spectacular collection of rare items from the earliest days of human space exploration, including Yuri Gagarin's and John Glenn's space suits.
"Sea-Air Operations" (203): Come aboard the quarterdeck of the fictitious USS Smithsonian. As a member of the crew, watch aircraft take off and land from the deck, and learn the history of ship-based flight.
"Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (204) showcases six aircraft representing the beauty, speed and capability of modern unmanned flight systems technology.
"World War II Aviation" (205): Explore the history of land-based fighter aviation among five major combatants —Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Italy and the United States.
"Legend, Memory and the Great War in the Air" (206): See rare airplanes, including the German Pfalz D.XII, Albatros D. Va and Fokker D. VII fighters; a British Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe fighter; and a French SPAD XIII fighter and Voisin VIII bomber.
"Exploring the Planets" (207): A full-scale replica of Voyager is the focal point here. Kids especially will enjoy "The Family of the Sun" theater, where a catchy tune teaches solar system factoids.
"Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight" (208): Closed through May 2010.
"The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age" (209): Learn the story of how Wilbur and Orville Wright solved the problems of powered flight and changed the world.
"Apollo to the Moon" (210): Astronaut Neil Armstrong, after descending the ladder of lunar module Eagle, took the first steps on the moon on July 20, 1969. The artifacts in the gallery tell the story of the United States' quest to place humans on the moon.
"Beyond the Limits" (213): See a full-size space shuttle cockpit simulator and learn how computers are used to train pilots and astronauts.
Wright Flyer Second floor, Gallery 209, top of escalator
Spirit of St. Louis—"Milestones of Flight," Gallery 100; best view is from the second floor
Apollo 11 command module On the first floor, "Milestones of Flight," Gallery 100
DC-7 Climb aboard—"America by Air" Gallery 102
"How Things Fly" Gallery 109, next to the welcome center
Enola Gay On view at the Udvar-Hazy Center
Membership in the National Air and Space Society directly supports the mission and programs of the National Air and Space Museum. Become a member of the National Air and Space Society.
Air and Space Museum Stores offer a variety of merchandise including souvenirs, books, DVDs, models, posters, clothing and more.
Air and Space Museum cafés:
Smithsonian Theaters are out of this world!
Experience flight in the IMAX® Theater, featuring a variety of adventures presented on a six-story-high screen.
Call 202-633-4629 or visit www.si.edu/imax for showtimes.
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