The National Air and Space Museum is Transforming

The National Air and Space Museum is undergoing a monumental multi-year renovation, which began in 2018. Transforming every visitor’s experience, the museum will use creative and dynamic techniques to engage visitors while they are at the museum and after they leave. All 23 exhibitions will be completely reimagined, with new presentation spaces and attractions. Building on a commitment from Congress, the museum aims to raise $250 million from leaders in the aerospace industry and citizens alike to dramatically transform their exhibitions and renovate the entire Museum, inside and out.

The transformation of the Museum represents an unprecedented moment in the conservation and preservation of thousands of artifacts, as well as a remarkable evolution of the Museum’s immersive learning experience. The museum is planning to have 23 galleries and spaces being reimagined for immersive learning, 1,400 new objects on display, and more than 5,200 artifacts moved and preserved.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum reopened on Friday, Oct. 14, with eight new and renovated galleries in the west wing of its building in Washington, D.C.

The museum has been undergoing a seven-year renovation that began in 2018 and includes redesigning all 23 exhibitions and presentation spaces, complete refacing of the exterior cladding, replacement of outdated mechanical systems, and other repairs and improvements. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2025. Visit the museum’s website for more information on the renovation.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport. The Udvar-Hazy Center is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center.