As Washington’s Air & Space Museum turns 50, its director Chris Browne tells Aviation Week about its newest galleries and gives a sneak peek of what's on display ahead of their opening on July 1.
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AI-Generated Summary
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington is approaching a major milestone as it prepares to rededicate its building on July 1, marking its fiftieth anniversary. The museum has undergone a long renovation that began in 2018 which has seen it emptied out, down to its structural frame before being rebuilt. The result is a reimagined experience in which a large share of the artifacts on view appear in the museum for the first time, while familiar icons remain central to the story.
The museum is aiming for a more immersive approach that uses tactile elements, audio, interactives, and new storytelling methods to help visitors connect with the material in different ways. Among the highlights are artifacts and exhibits tied to flight, space exploration and military aviation, including models and mock-ups of spacecraft and satellites, the Blue Origin New Shepard booster, a restored V-2 rocket, and galleries focused on learning how flight works, World War II in the air, art related to aerospace, and exploring the solar system and the universe. The museum also continues to preserve major icons such as the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, Apollo 11 command module, Neil Armstrong’s suit and the Bell X-1.
The renovated galleries are designed to make the museum more accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, with the aim of inspiring future pilots, engineers, designers, scientists, and astronomers. The museum’s larger facility at Udvar-Hazy also continues to grow, with plans for additional space to display more artifacts and future acquisitions.
Key Topics:
- Museum fiftieth anniversary
- Building renovation and reopening
- New immersive gallery design
- Flight and space learning exhibits
- World War II air history
- Restored V-2 rocket display
- Aerospace art and NASA paintings
- Expansion plans for Udvar-Hazy
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