Redesigning the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., a renowned institution dedicated to the history of aviation and space exploration, is set to undergo another exciting phase of its extensive renovation project. After a seven-month closure in 2022, the museum reopened its doors on October 14, 2022, unveiling an updated and redesigned west wing featuring the exhibit "America by Air."
Fast forward to July 28, 2025, when five new galleries will open to the public, marking the next significant step in the museum's transformation. These galleries include the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight, Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery, World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation, and Futures in Space.
The Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall and Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight are set to open in spring 2025, followed by the remaining three galleries later in the summer. These new galleries will showcase thousands of exhibits, blending new items and fan favourites, such as John Glenn’s Mercury Friendship 7 capsule and the Bell X-1. The Holt Innovations Gallery will feature rotating exhibits approximately every 18-24 months, with a focus on aerospace innovations and their role in contemporary life and future technologies, including climate change mitigation.
The entire renovation, which started in 2018, is expected to be fully completed by July 1, 2026, coinciding with the museum’s 50th anniversary. At that time, the remaining seven galleries will open, completing a comprehensive redesign of all 20 galleries, infrastructure updates, and exterior refurbishments.
Visitors can look forward to modernized, interactive exhibits that cover the history of flight, military aviation, aerospace innovations, and visions of space exploration. The museum houses the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, with over 78,000 objects and artifacts.
In addition to the Washington, D.C., location, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains related works of art and archival materials, as well as an annex, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, which is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free admission and a parking fee of $15.
Admission to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is also free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit. Some artifacts were previously on display at the museum in Washington and have undergone conservation, preservation, and restoration. Many artifacts in the new exhibitions are going on display after long-term storage.
The Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater and the museum's entrance on Jefferson Drive along the National Mall will also open in spring 2025, offering visitors an immersive cinematic experience alongside their visit to the museum. Artifacts will begin moving into their new galleries in the east end of the building later this year.
The museum-wide renovation project is designed to tell a more inclusive story of aviation history and space exploration, transforming the visitor experience and offering a more engaging, updated, and comprehensive understanding of the history of flight and space exploration.
[1] Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2022). National Air and Space Museum Reopens After Seven-Month Renovation. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/pressroom/national-air-and-space-museum-reopens-after-seven-month-renovation [Accessed 20 March 2023].
[2] Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2023). New Galleries to Open at National Air and Space Museum in 2025. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/pressroom/new-galleries-to-open-at-national-air-and-space-museum-in-2025 [Accessed 20 March 2023].
[3] Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2023). Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center [Accessed 20 March 2023].
[4] Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2023). Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum to Complete Renovation in 2026. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/pressroom/smithsonians-national-air-and-space-museum-to-complete-renovation-in-2026 [Accessed 20 March 2023].
[5] Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2023). Holt Innovations Gallery. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/expert/holt-innovations-gallery [Accessed 20 March 2023].
The new galleries, such as the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall and the Holt Innovations Gallery, will focus on showcasing aerospace innovations and their role in contemporary life and future technologies, including climate change mitigation. These galleries are part of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's comprehensive redesign, which uses cutting-edge technology to create modernized, interactive exhibits in space-and-astronomy and science.
