Exhibits

The Spirit of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. On April 30, 1928, Lindbergh presented his monoplane to the Smithsonian Institution where for more than eight decades it has been on display, today hanging in the atrium of the National Air and Space Museum alongside the Bell X-1 and SpaceShipOne .

Apollo 11 Command Module

Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The command module is displayed at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. Armstrong's and Aldrin's space suits are displayed in the museum's Apollo to the Moon exhibit.

Location and Hours

Independence Avenue at 6th Street SW, Washington, D.C.
Open 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m; may have extended Hours

FAQs

Where is the Space Shuttle Discovery displayed?
The space shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall.
What are the top places to eat?
The Wright Place Food Court offers menu items from Boston Market, McDonald's, and Donatos Pizzeria. A Café upstairs offers coffee, pastries and assorted food items. NOTE: Food and Drink, other than Bottled Water are not permitted inside the Museum.

Parking, directions, public transportation

There is no public parking facility at the National Mall Building. There are commercial parking lots and garages located within several blocks of the museums.

Children's Favorites

A favorite gallery for children is How Things Fly - the place for hands-on action including fascinating science demonstrations; paper airplane contests; and 50 exciting interactive devices.