The Museum’s Building on the National Mall Opened July 1, 1976
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will open five new galleries Wednesday, July 1, the 50th anniversary of the opening of its building in Washington, D.C., and in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The remaining two renovated galleries will open in the fall, which will complete the multi-year project.
“We celebrate the nation’s remarkable achievements in aviation and space exploration every day,” said Chris Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the museum. “As we finish our renovation this year, visitors will now be able to enjoy the Smithsonian’s world-class aerospace collection in a modern facility, one that will last the next 50 years and beyond.”
Galleries opening Wednesday, July 1:
Flight and the Arts Center
Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air
U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe
RTX Living in the Space Age
TEXTRON How Things Fly
The five renovated galleries will include newly displayed artifacts like the Il-2 Shturmovik and the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, as well as old favorites like the North American P-51D Mustang, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, the Hubble Space Telescope, Skylab and the DTM Image Tube Spectrograph used by Vera Rubin, who found the first evidence of dark matter in the universe. The new galleries will offer more interactives and modern technology throughout, such as the redesigned “TEXTRON How Things Fly” exhibition, which will offer hands-on experiences for younger visitors, including a Cessna Skyhawk visitors can sit in. The Flight and the Arts Center will open two inaugural exhibitions including the temporary exhibition “The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight.”
The opening of the five galleries July 1 and the remaining two galleries this fall will mark the completion of the museum’s multi-year renovation, including the redesign of all 20 galleries, complete refacing of the exterior cladding, replacement of outdated mechanical systems and other repairs and improvements. The first half of the renovated museum opened in October 2022 with eight new or reimagined exhibitions, the Northrop Grumman Planetarium, the museum store and the Mars Café. The second phase opened in July 2025 with five new exhibitions. More information about how the museum has revitalized the building and is transforming all of its exhibitions is available on the museum’s website.
Programming has been underway and will continue throughout the year to celebrate the building’s 50th anniversary, including a film series, lectures, special merchandise and digital offerings. For a full listing and information, visit the museum’s website.
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at 650 Jefferson Dr. S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free but timed-entry passes are required to visit. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required and parking is $15.