The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall holds one of the most significant collections of aviation and space artifacts anywhere in the world, and admission is always free. Its centerpiece is the original 1903 Wright Flyer, the aircraft that made the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, displayed alongside genuine moon rock that visitors can touch.
Other highlights include the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927, and Amelia Earhart’s bright red Lockheed Vega 5B. The museum’s Albert Einstein Planetarium runs shows on black holes and cosmic collisions roughly every half hour, and there’s a giant IMAX screen for film presentations. The museum has been undergoing a phased renovation, with five newly renovated galleries opening on July 1, 2026, to mark its 50th anniversary in Washington, and the final two galleries following later that year.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, including most holidays, though free timed-entry tickets are required and worth reserving in advance given how popular the collection is.