The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. has been undergoing a renovation that began in 2018 and includes the redesign of all 20 galleries, plus a wide range of building repairs and improvements to the buildling.
Most of the gallery work has been completed.
Five of the seven galleries yet to open are scheduled to have their debut on July 1, 2026, with the final two renovated galleries set to open this fall.
The July 1 date for the opening of five new galleries is notable. The date coincides with the 50th anniversary of the day the museum first opened to the public on July 1, 1976, during the country’s bicentennial and is just in time to help the country mark its 250th birthday (Semiquincentennial) on July 4, 2026.
The five new galleries opening at the National Air & Space Museum
The five new galleries at the National Air & Space Museum will bring back favorites such as the full-scale mockup of the Hubble Space Telescope and introduce many new items.
Galleries opening July 1 at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum include:
Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air
U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe
(Credit: Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)
We’re looking forward to visiting the Flight and Arts Center to see selections from the museum’s collection of more than 7,000 artworks reflecting the history of aviation and spaceflight.
The Art of Air and Space will feature a temporary exhibition of works by Robert Rauschenberg as well as more than 75 works from the Museum’s art collection, ranging from Old Master Francisco Goya to avant-garde artists such as the Surrealist Man Ray.
Artist: Charles Bell. From the museum’s Stuart M. Speiser Photorealist Collection
All images courtesy of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
