National Air & Space Museum: the most visited museum in the world
By far the most visited museum in the world year after year, the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum holds the world’s largest collection of historic air and spacecraft.
From the original Wright Brothers flying machine, to the “Spirit of St. Louis,” -- the airplane that took Charles Lindbergh on the first recorded transatlantic flight -- to the famed Apollo 11 capsule that brought the first humans on the moon back to Earth, to the legendary NCC-1701 from Gene Roddenberry’s 1960s saga “Star Trek,” when it comes to aviation history, the National Air & Space Museum in unequalled among the world’s aviation museums.
In addition to being an awesome display of aeronautical achievement, the museum 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.
The National Mall building – now one of two Air & Space facilities, the other located at the outskirts of the Washington area near Washington Dulles Airport – contains hundreds of artifacts on display, including a lunar rock sample brought back by one of the Apollo missions that visitors can actually touch.
The museum offers 22 exhibition galleries, the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, flight simulators, a three-level gift shop and a food-court-style restaurant. Docent tours, daily free educational programs and school group tours and activities are also available. Visit the museum’s primary web site for up-to-date details.
A dramatic re-creation of the meteorite impact that hastened the end of the Age of Dinosaurs 65 million years ago is a highlight of the planetarium show "Cosmic Collisions." The Albert Einstein Planetarium presents two shows daily: Cosmic Collisions launches visitors on a thrilling trip through space in a spectacular immersive theater experience, while “The Stars Tonight” offers a relaxing journey through the current night sky.
A favorite gallery for children is “How Things Fly” -- the place for hands-on action including fascinating science demonstrations; paper airplane contests; and 50 exciting interactive devices.
To get the best of a visit to the Air & Space Museum, be prepared to spend the better part of at least one day, perhaps two. And as often is the case, try to avoid visiting during major holidays. It's also a good idea to take a taxi or MetroRail to the Smithsonian exit and completely avoid driving.
- by Jim Brown , Washington Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
