The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opens five new and renovated galleries on Monday, July 28, 2025.  The Museum's entrance on the National Mall and the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater will also reopen.

A silver plane with a propeller, the Spirit of St. Louis, hangs above the entrance to a gallery. On the shiny terrazzo floor below is a compass rose. In the background, is the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery. The viewer can see at least three additional aircraft, including a biplane and Amelia Earhart's red airplane, as well as additional artifacts.

Press Release

“We are thrilled to open this next phase of exhibitions to the public,” said Chris Browne, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the National Air and Space Museum. “Reopening our main hall with so many iconic aerospace artifacts, as well as completely new exhibitions, will give visitors much more to see and enjoy. We are nearing the end of this multi-year renovation project, and we look forward to welcoming many more people into these modernized and inspiring new spaces.”

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A curved domed capsule on the left side of the image, with other technology hanging to the right.

A Blue Origin capsule mock-up and other commercial spaceflight artifacts on display in the Futures in Space gallery at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

Multimedia

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  • The entrance to a museum gallery, with a compass rose on the floor and a small silver airplane hanging from the ceiling. Signs at the entrance identify the gallery as "Pioneers of Flight." In the gallery, other planes are visible as well as cases holding artifacts.
  • A view of the Boeing Milestones of Flight gallery, taken from above. From left to right, viewers can see a lunar module--an almost cubist spacecraft with golden foil and silver metal, satellites, SpaceShip One with its futuristic curving lines, an the orange Bell X-1 with its curved fuselage, an experimental green and black plane, missiles and rockets. The floor features an inlaid pulsar map, made of lines and dashes radiating out from the Museum's logo.
  • Space exhibition bathed in blue light
  • Inside a gallery, the photograph showcases four World War I era biplanes, one sitting on the ground and three hanging as though in flight. In the back corner is also a balloon basket. On the right wall are a variety of other artifacts.
  • A photograph taken in the far back corner. Moving from left to right, in the foreground is a weather balloon illuminated orange, mirroring the environment on Venus. In the center of the gallery are panels with text and images. One panel has the heading "Understanding Climate Change." Artifacts hang above the panels, including a satellite and small plane. In the front right corner is a bench.
  • Exterior view of the National Air and Space Museum under a bright sun, featuring its modern architecture with symmetrical design and unique metallic elements.
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Gallery Photo Albums

In the right side of the frame, a red airplane sits elevated above the floor. Above it is a sign that reads "Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight." On the right side of the image, metal cases hold other objects.

Highlights

A museum gallery with spacecraft on display. From left to right, the viewer can see a lunar module, satellites, two capsules, a Viking Lander model, and Spaceship One.

Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall

In the foreground of the image, airplanes hang from the ceiling and model aircraft seem to float in exhibit cases. In the background is a brightly lit section with "Do you want to fly?" written on the wall. Interactives for children peek through the business of the foreground, including a model cockpit and hot air balloon.

Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight

A display case featuring a variety of objects. From left to right you can see model spacecraft, from toy size to 5 feet tall, a sari, a t-shirt, and a spacesuit. In front of it is a long text panel.

Futures in Space

From their vantage point inside the gallery, the viewer is surrounded by World War I airplanes that are hung to look as though they're flying and alighting. On the walls surrounding the planes are contextualizing artifacts.

World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation

A photograph taken inside a gallery. From the top down, there are artifacts suspended from the ceiling including a weather balloon, an airplane, satellites, and drones. Below it are panels with text and imagery and glass cases for smaller objects.

Aerospace and Our Changing Environment

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Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater

B-Roll

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A spacecraft stands on a tripod of legs, with golden foil at the bottom, and a silver shape at the top. It is surrounded by a Museum gallery, including a Mercury 7 capsule, an electronic side, and a hanging satellite.

Lunar Module LM-2 on display in the "Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall" exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.