Smithsonian Air and Space museum annex in Virginia
While the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) on the National Mall is one of the most popular destinations in DC, its companion facility in Virginia is less well-known. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center only sees a quarter of the visitors the main building has in a year, and I am surprised by how many locals have never made the trip to check it out.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is constructed as several airplane hangars to house an extensive collection of aircraft that does not fit in the main building. According to one museum docent, the entire NASM building could fit inside the Udvar-Hazy Center with plenty of room to spare. While the NASM uses the collection to present educational exhibits about the history and science of flight, the annex uses its large space to display notable aircraft and has few curated exhibits beyond a brief explanation of each object.
Walking through the museum, it’s hard not to feel inspired by the creativity and innovation represented in the various artifacts. Although not all of the aircraft at this museum were designed for peaceful purposes, only about a third of the collection is devoted to military aviation. The remainder showcases the drive of thousands of inventors, scientists, adventurers, and aviators to conquer the skies, improve our lives, and understand the unknown.
My favorite part of the museum is the Space Hangar, which displays satellites, rockets, and the main attraction – the Space Shuttle Discovery. It’s thrilling to see this historic spacecraft up close and marvel at how far our quest for exploration has taken us.
During my first year in DC, Discovery arrived at the Udvar-Hazy Center after a flyover on the National Mall. It was fun for me personally to finally make it out to this museum to see the shuttle on display.
Other notable aircraft include the Enola Gay (which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan), an Air France Concorde supersonic airliner, and a SR-71A Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. The abundant natural light and catwalks running throughout the hangars allow unique perspectives on the various sizes, shapes, colors, and types of aircraft. Even visitors who are not airplane enthusiasts can find something interesting in this vast and very “Instagrammable” collection.
At the time of my visit, the observation tower was a disappointment. All of the exhibits were broken and no planes flew by. There is no charge for the tower, though, so it doesn’t hurt to check it out on your visit and hope for more activity than I experienced.
Free guided tours are offered at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm daily and last two hours. Luggage lockers are available for adventurers who want to stop by on their way to or from Dulles International Airport next door.
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Address
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA
Metro Station
- Wiehle-Reston East (SV)
Directions
This museum is not easily accessible via public transportation, so it is recommended that you drive. Adventurers traveling by car must enter using the entrance off of Route 28. Some mapping services may direct you to the entrance off of Route 50, but this is not a public entrance.
To use public transportation, take the Fairfax Connector Bus No. 983 from the Wiehle-Reston East station. Get off at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center stop. The bus comes approximately every 20 minutes. Check out the bus schedule online to plan your trip as Google Maps doesn’t include this bus in the suggested routes. The trip is supposed to take about 90 minutes from downtown DC, but I imagine it probably takes longer.
Cost
Free
Parking is $15.00 until 4:00 pm
Hours
Open daily from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Length of Adventure
2-3 hours
