Boeing
Milestones of Flight Hall
See the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, in the same Hall as Friendship 7, NASA astronaut John Glenn’s spacecraft in which he became the first American to orbit the Earth.
The Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall showcases some of the museum’s most iconic objects. With artifacts arrayed along walls and suspended from the ceiling—and interpretive displays that provide background and context—this central gallery of the National Mall building invites visitors to explore the diverse and rich collections that make up the rest of the Museum’s exhibits, both in Washington, D.C., and at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Banners featuring important individuals in aviation and spaceflight, as well as a large media screen, help bring these historic figures to life.
Learn about all the ways we're transforming the Museum.
Location in Museum
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
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Whats Inside?
"The new exhibit space will introduce visitors to other significant events in aviation and spaceflight that have profoundly changed transportation, science, warfare, exploration, commerce, and culture. More than just technological firsts, the artifacts displayed in this elegant gallery reveal how advances in science and technology have impacted our daily lives and influenced politics in the United States—and the world—in the 20th century and beyond."
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The Museum gratefully acknowledges those who have generously supported this gallery.
The Boeing Company
Thomas W. Haas Foundation
The two-part Viking spacecraft began to unlock the secrets of Mars and fueled public attention for planetary exploration.
LM-2 was built for a second unmanned Earth-orbit test flight. Because the test flight of LM-1, performed as part of the Apollo 5 mission, was so successful, a second unmanned lunar module test mission was deemed unnecessary. It is now modified to appear like the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle.
Museum Transformation
Be the Spark
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.
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