National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum, established in 1946 as part of the Smithsonian Institution, is dedicated to the preservation and display of aviation and spaceflight history. The museum maintains the world’s largest and most significant collection of artifacts related to human flight, encompassing all eras and disciplines. Its core function is public education and engagement through exhibitions and programs at its two facilities: the main museum in Washington, D.C., and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Key holdings within the collection include historically significant aircraft such as the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, the Space Shuttle *Discovery*, and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, as well as the Apollo 11 Command Module *Columbia*. The museum actively hosts events, including live planetarium shows and discussions on future space technologies, and supports ongoing research related to flight and space exploration.

Welcoming over eight million visitors annually, the National Air and Space Museum occupies a unique position as a leading public resource for understanding the history and future of flight. Support for the museum comes through membership programs and donations, which contribute to collection care, exhibition development, and research initiatives.

The museum’s enduring value lies in its comprehensive collection and commitment to making the history and science of flight accessible to a broad audience, fostering appreciation for human innovation and inspiring future generations of explorers and scientists.