One of the must-see destination in Washington, DC is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. It is recognized as the most visited museum in the world and is perfect for all ages. Most of the displays and exhibits are interactive, which is great for kids. Here are some of the highlights.
The museum continually develops new exhibits in various fields like history, science, as well as technology of aviation and spaceflight. It is also a center for research and offers guided tours, educational programs, and fun school group activities.
Tips for a Fun Visit
The museum houses the biggest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It has 22 exhibition galleries and displays hundreds of artifacts. The most famous artifacts found here are the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command module.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum opened a companion facility in the year 2003. This is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which stands on the property of Washington Dulles International Airport found at Chantilly, Virginia. The museum gives a second location, about 30 minutes drive from Washington, DC. It displays the huge space shuttle Enterprise, Lockheed SR-71, and other aircrafts, spacecrafts, and artifacts that the main museum cannot accommodate. Here are some of the highlights.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is an educational institution. It captures the heart of the people coming from all age groups. It is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, for seven days a week. Admission to the center is free, but public parking costs around $15. There is also an IMAX theater and flight simulator rides are offered. Here are details of the center.
Compared to the main museum in Washington, DC, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is easier to get to from the suburbs. Aside from that, there is less crowd here.