Skip to main content
Reserve Free Passes
Donate

Search form

Visit

Visit

  • National Air and Space Museum in DC
  • Udvar-Hazy Center in VA
  • Plan a Field Trip
  • Plan a Group Visit
View of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tower at sunset

One museum, two locations

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

What's On

What's On

  • Events
  • Exhibitions
  • IMAX and Planetarium
Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

At the museum and online

Discover our exhibitions and participate in programs both in person or virtually.

Explore

Explore

  • Stories
  • Topics
  • Collections
  • On Demand
  • For Researchers
space shuttle launch

Dive deep into air and space

Browse our collections, stories, research, and on demand content.

Learn

Learn

  • Programs
  • Learning Resources
  • Plan a Field Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Education Monthly Theme
Women in Aviation and Space Family Day

For teachers and parents

Bring the Air and Space Museum to your learners, wherever you are.

Give

Give

  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Wall of Honor
  • Ways to Give
  • Host an Event
Bob Hoover Gives an Air Show Performance

Be the spark

Your support will help fund exhibitions, educational programming, and preservation efforts.

Photo Archives

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Archives
  3. Archival Collections
  4. Photo Archives
Archival collections
  • Technical and scale drawings
  • Aircraft technical manuals
  • Captured German & Japanese air technical documents
  • Technical reference files
  • Film Archives
  • Photo Archives
  • Audio collections
  • Aircraft history cards
Accessing the collections
  • Search the Archives
  • Plan your visit
  • Research request
Rights and reproductions
  • Rights requests
  • Obtaining reproductions
  • Pricing & fees
FAQ
Archival collections
  • Technical and scale drawings
  • Aircraft technical manuals
  • Captured German & Japanese air technical documents
  • Technical reference files
  • Film Archives
  • Photo Archives
  • Audio collections
  • Aircraft history cards
Donating to the Archives
Contact us

Our Archives holds three million images in various photographic formats. These collections cover the breadth and depth of the history of aviation and space flight.

Our holding include glass plate negatives of early Wright brothers flights, photography of Apollo astronauts, detailed shots of aircraft components, and much more.

Accessing This Collection

The National Air and Space Museum Archives has over 3 million photographs in the collection. Thousands of digitized images are available to view through the Smithsonian Virtual Online Archives (SOVA).  Just look for the blue box icon!

If you are unable to find the photograph you are looking for on our website, it is possible that it has not yet been digitized. Please contact the reference desk so that we can assist you.

Materials from the collection of the National Air and Space Museum or from National Air and Space Museum's website are subject to the Smithsonian Institution's Terms of Use.  Smithsonian Institution photographs, drawings, film, audio recordings or other materials may not be reproduced, resold, or commercially used without specific written permission from the Smithsonian Institution.

Our entire photography collection, including images that are not yet available online, is housed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Researchers are welcome, but appointments are required.

  • Submit a research request to our reference desk
  • Plan a visit to our reading room
  • Order Reproductions
  • Fee Schedule
Stay up to date on the latest stories and events with our newsletter

Thank you. You have successfully signed up for our newsletter.

Error message

Sorry, there was a problem. Please ensure your details are valid and try again.

  • About
  • Newsroom
  • Support
  • Get Involved
  • Contact
  • Host an Event

National Air and Space Museum

6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560

202-633-2214

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Free Timed-Entry Passes
Required

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151

703-572-4118

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use