Air and Space Museum: the pieces you cannot miss
Quick answer
The must-sees at the Air and Space Museum are the 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11's Columbia, the Spirit of St. Louis, the X-15 rocket plane, the Apollo Lunar Module LM-2 and the P-51D Mustang. You need a free timed-entry pass, and the museum is open 10am to 5:30pm.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
Point your camera at any artwork
Try it free at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
AnyArt recognizes paintings, sculptures and monuments and tells you their story in seconds, like a personal audio guide. Free for iPhone, iPad and Android.
10 pieces you should not miss
The galleries have been renovated and some pieces have moved; confirm on the map at the entrance. We list the gallery rather than a room number.
- 1
Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age
The 1903 Wright Flyer
The original aircraft in which Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered, controlled flight. It changed history.
- 2
Destination Moon
The Columbia command module
The Apollo 11 capsule that carried Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins to the Moon and back.
- 3
Destination Moon
Neil Armstrong's A7L spacesuit
The suit Armstrong wore on the Apollo 11 mission, shown alongside Saturn V F-1 engine nozzles.
- 4
Pioneers of Flight
Spirit of St. Louis
The aircraft in which Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927. One of the most famous airplanes in history.
- 5
Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
The X-15 rocket plane
An experimental rocket plane that reached hypersonic speeds and near-space altitudes in the 1960s.
- 6
Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
Apollo Lunar Module LM-2
A test Apollo lunar module, a sibling of those that landed on the Moon.
- 7
Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air
The P-51D Mustang
One of the best-known fighters of World War II, shown with bronze statues of the Tuskegee Airmen.
- 8
World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation
The Sopwith Camel
A British World War I fighter, a symbol of combat aviation.
- 9
Nation of Speed
Record-setting cars and bikes
Mario Andretti's 1969 Indy 500 STP Hawk and Evel Knievel's XR-750 motorcycle, among others.
- 10
RTX Living in the Space Age Hall
Skylab
A mockup of the living quarters of the first US space station and a flight garment worn by Michael Collins.
So you miss nothing
- Book your timed-entry pass early.
- Confirm which galleries are open: At Home in Space and Modern Military Aviation open in late 2026.
- Scan any aircraft or spacecraft with AnyArt to hear its story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous piece in the museum?
The 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11's Columbia and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.
Where is the Columbia command module?
In the Destination Moon gallery. Check the map on arrival.
Is the whole museum open?
Nearly: 18 galleries are open and two more open in fall 2026. Confirm on the website.
Can you take photos?
Generally yes, without flash. Check signs in each gallery.
Are the biggest aircraft here?
The largest are at the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport; the National Mall building holds the key historic pieces.