- Awards (8,591)
- Insignias (6,758)
- Works of art (4,519)
- Personal equipment (2,485)
- Equipment (2,231)
- Memorabilia (2,015)
- Medals (1,678)
- Posters (1,413)
- Drawings (1,340)
- Computers (1,276)
- Models (1,229)
- Rockets (1,004)
- Components (objects) (997)
- Aircraft (941)
- Prints (919)
- Originals (916)
- Engines (868)
- Propulsion systems (835)
- Avionics (811)
- Flight instruments (616)
- Missiles (541)
- Paintings (541)
- Crewed spacecraft (532)
- Communication systems (mechanical and electrical systems) (511)
- Photographic equipment (476)
- Navigational instruments (442)
- Uncrewed spacecraft (416)
- Testing equipment (405)
- Scientific instruments (385)
- Protective and life-saving equipment (364)
- Handwear (326)
- Headgear (315)
- Helmets (315)
- Instruments (314)
- Weapons (302)
- Spacesuits (284)
- Costume accessories (271)
- Culinary equipment for serving and consuming food (255)
- Food (255)
- Tools (246)
- Reciprocating (piston) engines (226)
- Rotary engines (226)
- Sights (firearm component) (212)
- Clothing (204)
- Protective wear (204)
- Engines (power producing equipment) (194)
- Propellers (175)
- Impellers (163)
- Autopilots (137)
- Radar (127)
- Medical equipment (124)
- Military uniforms (124)
- Artificial satellites (120)
- Personal equipment: grooming, hygiene and health care (112)
- Payloads (111)
- Photographs (108)
- Uniforms (100)
- Footwear (98)
- Electrical systems (92)
- Trophies (76)
- Wind tunnels (60)
- Instructional materials (57)
- Parachutes (life-saving equipment) (49)
- Jet aircraft (44)
- Personal accessories (44)
- Turbines (44)
- Containers (42)
- Rotorcraft (41)
- Ammunition (35)
- Textiles (32)
- Breathing devices (30)
- Sculpture (28)
- Reproductions (26)
- Postage stamps (22)
- Bombs (explosive weapons) (21)
- Certificates (21)
- Baloons (aircraft) (18)
- Rotocraft (18)
- Underwear (18)
- Science fiction (13)
- Maps (12)
- Blueprints (reprographic copies) (11)
- Landing equipment (10)
- Specimens (9)
- Books (8)
- Mixed media (8)
- Portraits (7)
- Power producing equipment (7)
- Antennas (5)
- Film (5)
- Meteorological instruments (5)
- Commemoratives (4)
- Artillery (3)
- Airships (2)
- Cannons (artillery) (2)
- Kites (equipment) (2)
- Sound recordings (2)
- Balloons (aircraft) (1)
- Experimental aircraft (1)
- Art (4,491)
- Popular culture (1,058)
- Outer space (927)
- Aeronautics (810)
- Human spaceflight (677)
- Navigation (616)
- Photography (479)
- War (414)
- Science (390)
- Spaceflight (322)
- Moon (169)
- Airlines (100)
- Electronic apparatus and appliances (73)
- WW II (28)
- World War, 1939-1945 (28)
- WW I (27)
- World War, 1914-1918 (27)
- Philately (22)
- Extravehicular activity (Human spaceflight) (17)
- Design (12)
- Manufacturing industries (12)
- Air traffic control (11)
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 (6)
Our collections specialists actively work on the conservation, preservation, restoration, and long-term care of the objects in our collection. From full-scale restoration projects to applying preservation techniques and doing regular assessments, these activities form a crucial part of our stewardship of the National Collection.