Wall-breaking Ceremony for Phase Two of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

WHAT: Wall-breaking Ceremony for Phase Two of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 15; 8:30 a.m. (breakfast); 9:30 a.m. (program starts.)

WHERE: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Va.

WHO: G. Wayne Clough, secretary, Smithsonian Institution
         John R. Dailey, director, National Air and Space Museum
         David Hurley, chairman, National Air and Space Museum Board

The new, and final, wing of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center – “Phase Two” – will be dedicated to the behind-the-scenes care of the Smithsonian’s extraordinary collection of aircraft, spacecraft, related artifacts and archival materials. This collection is the largest and most significant of its kind, with some 60,000 artifacts, including many of history’s most rare and iconic artifacts of flight. Phase Two’s preservation and conservation facilities will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to have a firsthand look at the process of restoring aircraft and spacecraft.

Secretary Clough and Gen. Dailey will explain the importance of this next phase of the Udvar-Hazy Center, and the wall separating Phase One from Phase Two will come down.

Interviews can be arranged for early morning hours before the center opens by calling (202) 633-2374.

Photos of objects in the collection and the Phase Two project are available at http://airandspace.si.edu/about/newsroom/multimedia/.

Interested media must R.S.V.P. to LaraI@si.edu or MullenB@si.edu.