“Unlike the boundaries of the sea by the shorelines, the ‘ocean of air’ laps at the border of every state, city, town and home throughout the world.”
—L. Welch Pogue


America by Air traces the history of commercial aviation in the United States from airmail to airlines. Exploring the history of air transportation in the United States, this exhibit shows how the federal government has shaped the airline industry, how improvements in technology have revolutionized air travel, how the flying experience has changed, and how different airlines have fared over the course of the history of commercial aviation.

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Location in Museum

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Gallery 102
Map of the first floor of the National Air and Space Museum's Washington, D.C., building, highlighting in yellow the America by Air gallery on the north side of the building, two rooms west of center

Step Inside America by Air

Preview the exhibition with this teaser trailer.

Want even more? Take a virtual tour!

Dive Deeper into Commercial Aviation

The Museum gratefully acknowledges those who have generously supported this gallery.

American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines

Alaska Airlines
JetBlue

Frontier Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Spirit Airlines

Additional support provided by:

David H. Rowe / Michael Greene / AE Industrial Partners, LP

National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Airbus
Carol and Gary Kelly

Adam Aron, Former Pan Am Executive
 

A view of the America by Air gallery. Several large airplanes are suspended from the ceiling with smaller airplanes on the ground.

An overhead view of the gallery.

The exhibit America by Air as seen from the back wall. There are a row of flight attendant uniforms, a bench that shows the change is seat size over time, and the nose of a passenger airplane.

A display showing various flight attendant uniforms.

Girl looking up at astronaut suit model at the National Air and Space Museum.

Museum Transformation

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A major renovation is underway as we reimagine our galleries and presentation spaces in our iconic National Mall building in Washington, DC. Join us as we inspire a new generation of pioneers and explorers.