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National Air and Space Museum

HistoryScienceClosed · Opens 10amFreeL'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk)

Le National Air and Space Museum de la Smithsonian Institution abrite la plus importante collection au monde d'objets historiques liés à l'aviation et à la conquête spatiale, du Wright Flyer de 1903 au Spirit of St. Louis, en passant par le Bell X-1, la capsule Friendship 7 de John Glenn et le module de commande Columbia d'Apollo 11. Conçu en 1976 par Gyo Obata — quatre volumes monumentaux vêtus de marbre et reliés par de vastes atriums vitrés —, le bâtiment vient d'achever une rénovation de huit ans et de 360 millions de dollars. Ce chantier d'envergure a permis de restaurer ses façades, de repenser l'ensemble des 20 galeries et d'aménager une nouvelle entrée à portique sur Jefferson Drive. Cinq espaces entièrement réinventés ont ouvert leurs portes le 1er juillet 2026, à l'occasion du cinquantième anniversaire de l'édifice, parmi lesquels TEXTRON How Things Fly et le tout nouveau Flight and the Arts Center. À l'automne 2026, les deux dernières galeries, At Home in Space et Modern Military Aviation, viendront parachever ce renouveau.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States

Nearest station: L'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk), Federal Center SW Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver)

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Hours

Mon10:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
Thu10:00–17:30
Fri10:00–17:30
SatToday10:00–17:30
Sun10:00–17:30

Admission

Free

Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.

Nearby

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

DesignFree3 min walk

National Museum of the American Indian

ArtFree3 min walk

National Gallery of Art

ArtFree4 min walk

National Archives Museum

ArchitectureFree7 min walk

Visitor Information

Is National Air and Space Museum free to visit?
Yes, general admission to National Air and Space Museum is free. Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of National Air and Space Museum?
National Air and Space Museum is open Open daily 10:00–17:30. Closed 25 December. Free timed-entry passes are required for all visitors. All visitors enter through the Jefferson Drive doors on the National Mall. The At Home in Space gallery is closed until 30 October 2026 and Modern Military Aviation until 11 November 2026 while they are installed.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is National Air and Space Museum?
National Air and Space Museum is located at 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States, in the National Mall area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are L'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk), Federal Center SW Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver).
What can I see at National Air and Space Museum?
Le Wright Flyer, la capsule Columbia d'Apollo 11 et un fragment de roche lunaire à toucher : sur le National Mall, un musée métamorphosé après huit ans de travaux. Current highlights include L'ascension de Rauschenberg : réinventer l'art du vol (The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight), L'art de l'air et de l'espace : interprétations du vol (The Art of Air and Space: Interpretations of Flight), Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.
Do I need to book National Air and Space Museum in advance?
National Air and Space Museum is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit National Air and Space Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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