These reimagined exhibits bring cutting-edge interactivity, stunning aviation and space artifacts, and STEAM-focused learning right to the heart of the National Mall. In this blog, you’ll find tips for navigating these spaces plus more info on what’s to come!
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In this blog...
Know Before You Go...
Here are some need-to-know details prior to heading to the National Air and Space Museum in DC:
- This museum is located on the National Mall at 601 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560.
- Starting July 28, 2025, visitors can only enter the museum through the entrance off the National Mall, located at 655 Jefferson Drive SW.
- Admission is free but timed entry passes are required and should be reserved in advance.
Read more about visiting the museum through the National Air and Space Museum’s website.
Initial Thoughts
SO many nooks and crannies to explore with these new exhibits including a questions-based look into the Futures (emphasis on the s) in Space gallery and a highly interactive space for small children in the Pioneers of Flight. What I appreciate most about these galleries is the interactiveness of them. As you walk through, you will find many small activities to engage the mind like the “Sounds of a Sopwith Camel” exercise in the World War I tribute. With this activity, you can listen to sounds of the rather noisy Sopwith Camel’s open cockpit and alter the sound using the control buttons. There are plenty of hands-on opportunities like this throughout the new galleries so keep a close eye out for them as you make your way through them.
Meet the 5 New Galleries
Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
Located on the 1st floor.
Huge hall space with historic artifacts like the Lunar Module LM-2 (photoed above on the left) that was built for testing but never flown in space. It’s similarly built like the LM-5, Apollo 11’s lunar module Eagle, which landed on the moon in 1969. This Hall also includes nods to space and flight’s most iconic stars like Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Katherine Johnson! Great photo ops here.
Read more about the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.
Futures in Space Exhibition
Located on the 1st floor.
The exhibition is questions-based about proposed futures in space. There’s an interactive teleprompter with questions that visitors can contribute to during their visit. As you walk through the exhibition space, you’ll see answers to questions like “Who decides who goes to space?”, “Why do we go?” and so on. Liv (age 11) was intrigued by the question: “What Kinds of Homes Could We Bring/Build?” There are several concept designs featured in this particular section and a deep dive into the materials they’d use. This space also includes pop-culture nods to characters like R2D2 and Rosie the Robot from the retro cartoon, The Jetsons and a collection of beautiful artwork.
I was disappointed in the lack of Afro-Futurism mentioned in this space. The National Museum of African American History and Culture had an amazing temporary exhibition that included nods to space travel. I was really hoping to see even a small bit of those artifacts displayed in this gallery.
Read more about the Futures in Space exhibition.
Aerospace and Our Changing Environment Exhibition
Located on the 1st floor.
We didn’t tour this space but according to the museum’s website this “exhibition focuses on how aerospace innovations help us understand climate change while providing new technologies to respond to the challenge. Aerospace and Our Changing Environment aims to explore both the science of climate change and the efforts of individual and collective actions within aerospace industries to mitigate it.”
Read more about the Aerospace and Our Changing Environment exhibition.
World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation Exhibition
Located on the 2nd floor.
This gallery highlights the accomplishments of flight throughout World War I and details the stories of the people who set these accomplishments into motion. There are a bunch of pockets of interactive activities throughout this exhibition. I think it’s to engage those who are less likely to be intrigued by the topic. Aside from the “Sounds of a Sopwith Camel” described earlier, visitors can also journey through France during World War I with an interactive flight map or fire a synchronized gun to see how the bullet misses the propeller. I love how they also highlighted stories of lesser-known fighter pilots and diversity within the military at that time. Younger kids will enjoy seeing the displays of wartime aircraft and may even spot the nod to Snoopy and the Red Baron.
Read more about the World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation exhibition.
Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Exhibition
Located on the 2nd floor.
My favorite gallery of the new set! This vintage themed collection of stories, artifacts and interactiveness portrays the 20s’ and 30s’ era of aviation. It also includes a kids corner with a storytime area, life-sized airplane for photo ops with interactive elements, giant hot air balloon and rocket launcher. Younger kids will thoroughly enjoy exploring this space (located towards the back of the exhibition). They can engage with prompts on the walls and short, interactive activities that coincide. Older kids may appreciate learning about historic accomplishments of the time period using interactive display boards. Liv enjoyed viewing Amelia Earhart’s story from birth. There’s also a nod to Black Wings and African American contributions to flight despite the discrimination and segregation they faced. Beautiful displays! When I visit again, I’m going straight to this exhibit, first!
Read more about the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight exhibition.
What's Next
These galleries open to the public on Monday, July 28th. They’re a part of a multi-year transformation that’s to be completed in 2026, which coincides with the museum’s 50th anniversary and the United States’ 250th anniversary. The remaining galleries and spaces will open/re-open on July 1, 2026!
Next year’s set of galleries will include a highly interactive exhibition space that kids will also love called TEXTRON How Things Fly. “Using immersive experiences such as wind tunnels, the newly reimagined exhibition will explore how people use science and engineering to maximize and minimize the forces acting on aircraft and spacecraft. Topics such as super- and hypersonic flight, aircraft design, and spacecraft design will also be featured.” Stay tuned for more updates on what additional galleries will include.
Read more about the National Air and Space Museum’s Transformation.
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