The National Air and Space Museum is in the midst of a multi-year renovation of the Museum in DC. During 2021, progress on this project included beginning the installation of artifacts in eight new west end galleries slated for opening in 2022 and planning and design of the remaining galleries and open spaces on the east end of the building. 

Earlier on in the project, the west end galleries were completely emptied of artifacts and exhibits and the building structure and systems completely renovated. In 2021, with that construction work completed, the galleries were classified as “black box status” — ready to be filled up with the new exhibitions.

Members of the Museum's Conservation team and Preservation and Restoration Unit were also hard at work applying treatments to the artifacts to prepare them for display. More information on that can be found in the Collections section of this report.

In the midst of the work to advance the West End exhibitions to completion, work was also ongoing on scripting and design of the Museum's East End exhibitions. More information on that can be found in the Curatorial section of this report.

Installing Artifacts

A selection of photos documenting the installation of artifacts in their new exhibitions on the West End of the National Air and Space Museum can be found below.

In this photo from November 2021, Apollo 11 command module Columbia is moved to the Museum in DC to be installed into the Destination Moon exhibition. Read about Museum director Chris Browne's experience riding along on the Columbia move.

A truck on a public road with other vehicles behind it as carries a large white triangular object with the city view in the background.

In this photo from October 2021, Evel Knievel’s Harley Davidson XR-750 motorcycle, on loan from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, is installed in the Nation of Speed exhibition, which tells the story of America's desire to become the fastest on land, sea, air, and space in the pursuit of commerce, power, and prestige.

Two people in yellow construction vests and helmets install a motorcycle in a display case.

In this photo from August 2021, the Northrop 4A Alpha is raised into its position in the America by Air exhibition, a multi-story gallery that features a variety of aircraft from the history of commercial aviation.

Silver aircraft being suspended in a gallery

In this photo from August 2021, the antenna of the full-scale Voyager mock-up is installed in the Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery, the Museum's new take on telling the story of exploration of our solar system and beyond.

Two men in yellow construction vests and helmets use a lift to install the antenna of a spacecraft

In this photo from October 2021, the Bell 47B helicopter is suspended in the nearly-empty Thomas W. Haas We All Fly gallery. This will be the first time a helicopter is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in DC in three decades.

Red helicopter hanging in a nearly-empty gallery while covered in a light sheet of plastic.

  • 1.2 Become the standard bearer in experiential learning through both an exhibition program that meets visitors where they are and encounters that invite learners to experiment  
  • 1.2.1 Work collaboratively to present content in a variety of ways and locations to meet visitors’ multiple learning styles   
  • 1.2.2 Expand and evolve opportunities for visitors to interact with and immerse themselves in exhibitions, collections, and content  
  • 1.2.3: Explore new ways to use technology to enhance visitor interactive experience  
  • 1.3: Use research and diverse modes of storytelling to amplify visitors’ connections with the artifacts to expand interest and engagement with history, space exploration, aviation, and our global society  
  • 4.1.1 Continue implementation of Revitalization and Transformation initiatives