Tuesday, February 17, 2009

My World Tuesday - Air and Space Museum

Some World War I vintage planes
The National Air Museum was established as part of the Smithsonian in 1946 with artifacts displayed in the Arts and Sciences Building on the Mall. In the 1960's rockets were put on display outsde the Building and "and space" was added to the museum's name. In 1976 a new Air and Space Building was opened on the Mall near the Capitol, greatly expanding the space. My kids were small when we first visited it in the late 70's. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located adjacent to the Dulles International Airport, opened in December 2003. A year later the Space Hanager opened with the Space Shuttle Enterprise as its main attraction. The museum also has a preservation, restoration and storage facility in Suitland, Maryland. With the opening of the Udvar-Hazy center, 80% of the museums artifacts are now on display. The museum is planning an addition to handle the preservation and restoration that will allow the public to watch this work. Both this museum and the one in Washington have IMAX theaters and gift shops.

Both museums have been a favorite place to visit with our grandsons. The pictures shown here are from our visits in 2005 and 2006 to the new facility. This is just a small sample of all there is to see.

World War II fighters

The bomber Enola gay

Commercial and private aircraft, including the Concorde

Space Shuttle Enterprise

Space Shuttle Enterprise (grandsons standing below the tail)

Space Shuttle Enterprise from the rear


NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

10 comments:

SandyCarlson said...

Wow, wow, wow.

Louise said...

Have always wanted to see that, but so far have no. Very cool.

Unknown said...

Very fine pictures and much good reading, Lew.

DeniseinVA said...

Great photos Lew, and very enjoyable commentary. I live about 20 minutes away from the new Air and Space Museum opposite Dulles, and have been there several times. It is a wonderful place, as is the one along the mall in DC. Wonderful post!

allhorsestuff said...

Nice day , neat aircrafts!
KK

david mcmahon said...

Lovely work, Lew.

Sorry it's taken me so long to return your visits.

Rune Eide said...

A highly interesting place for a man with a camera and technical interests! Loved the Enterprise, but a bit ambivalent about the Enola Gay.

PS Congratulations with the mention on David's blog!

Merisi said...

Wonderful memories of my old hometown, thank you for capturing the new Dulles wing!

I came over here from David's Authorblog, congratulations on your POD award!

Sandi McBride said...

And you could close your eyes and hear the engines roar, imagine a dogfight in the skies over England...watch a spacewalk in your mind...thanks so much for sharing your bounty! And congratulations on Post of the Day mention at David's.
Sandi

Susie of Arabia said...

Great photos, Lew! Looks like a cool place to visit. Found you through the mention on David's Authorblog.