S M I T H S O N I A N   I N S T I T U T I O N
N A T I O N A L   A I R   &   S P A C E   M U S E U M

Washington D.C.

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Museum: #2

Highlights: World's largest collection of air and spacecraft under one roof, historical artifacts, a piece of the moon, interesting exhibits.

Address: 6th Street and Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560

Hours: Open daily 10am to 5:30pm, closed December 25.

Admission: Free!

Phone: (202) 633-2214

Link: Official Website

Rating:

(5 max)

I've arrive all pumped up and ready to go. Being a licensed pilot, I have a large appreciation for anything and everything aviation, so coming to the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum today is a mecca of sorts. The bus outside the entrance whisks visitors to the sister complex, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where you'll find an enormous hanger filled to the gills with artifacts of the likes of Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, and Space Shuttle Enterprise.

In front of the museum I see this odd antenna of sorts. Its passing itself off as artwork, but I wonder if there's more here than the eye can see?

Inside I go. After being screened by security, I immediately find myself standing in the first exhibit, Milestones of Flight. Here's a map of the Museum Complex. As you can see, it's a pretty expansive place.