[aviation news]
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum‘s massive renovation is getting closer to the finish line as with the opening of five new galleries in July.
Starting on July 28, in Washington, D.C., the museum will welcome visitors to view “Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall,” “Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight,” Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery, “World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation,” and “Futures in Space.”
What to Expect
Among the new exhibits is “Aerospace and Our Changing Environment,” which focuses on how aerospace innovations can help humans understand climate change and develop new technologies to mitigate the problem. Visitors will learn how climate data is collected and analyzed and see how aerospace innovations are being developed in energy, agriculture, and aviation to reduce society’s dependency on fossil fuels.
The exhibit will be the first to be presented in the Holt Innovations Gallery. The space will feature different exhibits that rotate every 18-24 months. The focus is on different ways aerospace innovations are part of contemporary life and what role they play in shaping our future.
The “Futures in Space” exhibit focuses on exploring the potential near- and long-term futures that may emerge as technological advances are made in the pursuit of space exploration.
According to NASM officials, in addition to new artifacts, the galleries will display returning favorites, such as John Glenn’s Mercury Friendship 7 capsule, which will be located in the same exhibit hall as the Bell X-1.
For museum guests who are partial to the golden age of aviation, the “Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight” exhibit celebrates the 1920s and ’30s with iconic aircraft, personal stories, and an expanded footprint for hands-on learning. The space features a new art deco design that includes full-size murals and projections.
NASM officials note that public favorites, such as the Lockheed Vega flown by Amelia Earhart and the Spirit of St. Louis flown by Charles Lindbergh, will be back on display.
Going back even further in the history of flight, the new “World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation” exhibit uses fascinating artifacts and multimedia to bring forth the distinctive sights and sounds of early combat aircraft to demonstrate how the new technology of the airplane was adapted to warfare.
The display includes some of the best-known designs from the conflict, including the Sopwith Camel, Fokker D. VII, and Dayton-Wright DH-4. The latter was the first American-built aircraft used in the Great War, as it was used for observation, artillery spotting, and daytime bombing. The DH-4 was utilized by the U.S. Army Air Service after the war as well but was finally retired from service in 1932.
The July opening marks another milestone for NASM, which has been undergoing a multiyear renovation since 2018.
The project includes a redesign of all 20 galleries in addition to an update of the mechanical systems and repairs to the facility infrastructure and a refacing of the building exterior. Officials say the project will be completed July 1, 2026, when the remaining seven galleries open in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the museum’s construction in Washington and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
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