Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is our family’s favorite of the Smithsonian Museums. There were many activities and hands on exhibits which make the museum very kid friendly…. a big plus for any family vacation.
Paper Airplane Contest
While we were on our family vacations stop in the museum, there was a children’s paper airplane competition. Amanda and Shannon participated in the contest, and Amanda won in her division for the session. The contest consisted of constructing a paper airplane, and then flying is through a loop held by one of the attendants. In a later visit, my grandson also took part in the paper airplane contest. He won the contest!
About the Museum
The main campus of the National Air and Space Museum is on the National Mall and is one of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. It opened its main building to the public in 1976 and gets close to 7 million visitors a year!
The museum holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world!
Not only is this a museum, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. Big words, I know!
Air and Space Museum Reviews
Air and Space Favorites
- How Things Fly – Located on the first floor of the Museum – this gallery houses over 50 interactive devices, science demonstrations, and the paper airplane contest mentioned above.
- The six spacecraft models that carried humans into space, including John Glenn’s Mercury capsule, Friendship 7; Gemini VI, America’s first Space Walk Mission; and the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia.
Information
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Address: On the National Mall
6th and Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza
There is no charge to visit any of the Smithsonian Museums. The Museums open at 10:00 AM daily.
Visit the Air and Space Museum web site for more information.