National Air and Space Museum
Almost nothing here is a copy — the capsules and planes are original primary or backup craft, not reproductions.
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On the National Mall since 1976, this Smithsonian draws over three million visitors a year because nearly every aircraft and spacecraft is an original or backup craft, not a facsimile. Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, John Glenn's Friendship 7 capsule, and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia are the real hardware — you are standing next to the objects themselves.
What to look for
- The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer near the entrance — the original aircraft, not a reproduction
- Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, one of the museum's centerpiece original spacecraft
- Friendship 7, the capsule flown by John Glenn, displayed alongside other primary craft
As of August 2024, only 13 of 23 galleries are open during a $360-million renovation; check which sections are accessible before you visit, as 10 galleries are expected to reopen by 2026.
National Air and Space Museum is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Washington, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Washington pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Washington
- White HouseBritish forces torched it in 1814. It has been the U.S. president's home and office ever since.
- The PentagonDesigned and built in 16 months during World War II — 17.5 miles of corridors, a five-acre central courtyard, and a 9/11 memorial at the exact point of impact.
- United States CapitolEvery street address in Washington DC radiates outward from this building — it is literally the zero point of the city.
- Washington MonumentThe faint color seam partway up the shaft marks where construction stopped for 23 years.
- Smithsonian InstitutionBritish scientist James Smithson left a bequest that became 157 million objects, 21 museums, and a zoo — almost all free to walk into.
- Arlington National CemeteryThe ground holding 400,000 graves was seized from Robert E. Lee's own family over an unpaid tax bill in 1864.