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National Air and Space Museum
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This fascinating museum’s 23 main exhibition galleries pay homage to some of the most ingenious and beautifully crafted objects of flight, from the Wright brothers’ airplane, steered by bending its flexible frame, to the complex and powerful ships that carried humans into space. Compelling exhibitions put these historic objects in the context of their social and political settings. Another highlight is the moon rock, displayed so that the public can touch it.
For more on museums in Washington, D.C.
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1. 1903 Wright Flyer
On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright flew this craft 120 ft (35 m), making it the first plane to be airborne. Muslin fitted with a spruce and ash framework provided a light but strong body. The Wright brothers also designed the engine.
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2. Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis
Charles A. Lindbergh flew this plane on the first transatlantic flight, 3,610 miles (5,810 km) from Long Island to Paris in 1927. His 33-hour solo flight made him one of the most famous men of his age and turned aviation into a public craze. NYP stands for New York–Paris.
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3. Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia
This vessel was the command center for the first human landing in space, photographing the moon and carrying Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin back to Earth.
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4. Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed 5B Vega
In this striking airplane, Amelia Earhart completed the second solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Ireland in 14 hours, 54 minutes.
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5. Skylab Orbital Workshop
5. Skylab Orbital WorkshopThis gold cylinder was an identical backup to the workshop that provided living and research space for the first US space station.
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6. How Things Fly
Hands-on exhibits here lead visitors through the basics of flight, both human and animal, and explain forces that control flight of all types, from a helium balloon to a mission to Mars.
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7. Looking at Earth
The focus here is on the contribution aerial photography and space flight have given to our understanding of Earth. Also memorable is the breathtaking beauty of some of the images.
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8. Re-enactment of the Eagle Moon Landing
Much of the world held its breath on July 20, 1969, as Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin and the Lunar Module Eagle approached and touched down on the moon’s Sea of Tranquillity. Visitors can re-experience one of the 20th century’s most thrilling moments in this multimedia display.
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9. WWI and WWII Aviation
A collection of Allied and Axis planes from World Wars I and II, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Supermarine Spitfire, makes this one of the most popular parts of the museum.
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10. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
This fabulous new aviation area at Dulles International Airport, with a shuttle service from the main museum, consists of two exhibition hangars, one over 100 ft (30 m) high. It allows NASM to display over 300 extra aircraft and spacecraft.
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If this museum is your kind of thing, another absolute must-see is the Udvar-Hazy Center, where you can find hundreds of aircraft and spacecraft displayed in two massive hangars. Take the shuttle there from just outside the National Air and Space Museum. It's so convenient, and well worth the short ride out of the city.
about a year ago
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