National Air and Space Museum Announces Five New Galleries Will Open July 28
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced the next phase of gallery openings at its flagship building in Washington, D.C. Five new exhibitions, the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater and the museum’s redesigned entrance on Jefferson Drive along the National Mall will open Monday, July 28. The project to renovate the entire museum began in 2018 and will culminate next year when the remaining galleries open July 1, 2026, the 50th anniversary of the museum in Washington and in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Thousands of artifacts will go back on display in the reopened galleries. Favorites such as the Spirit of St. Louis, the North American X-15, John Glenn’s Mercury Friendship 7 capsule, Apollo Lunar Module 2 and the touchable moon rock will be back on view. Several artifacts new to the building in Washington will include the Sopwith F.1 Camel, Virgin Galactic’s RocketMotorTwo, a Blue Origin New Shepard crew capsule mockup and a Goddard 1935 A series rocket.
Free timed-entry passes will still be required to visit the museum. Passes for the July 28 opening and beyond will be available on the museum’s website starting June 13.
Galleries opening July 28:
“Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall”
“Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight”
“World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation”
Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery
Galleries opening July 1, 2026:
“RTX Living in the Space Age Hall”
“Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air”
“U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe”
The museum’s multi-year renovation includes redesigning all 20 galleries, complete refacing of the exterior cladding, replacement of outdated mechanical systems and other repairs and improvements including the addition of a new entry vestibule. The first phase opened in October 2022 with eight new galleries, the planetarium, the museum store and the Mars Café. Since then, nearly 5 million people have visited the museum.
More information about how the museum is transforming all of its exhibitions and revitalizing the building is available on the museum’s website.
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at Jefferson Drive between Fourth and Seventh streets S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required, and parking is $15.
Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Photo Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
