Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Five New Galleries
Today, July 1, 2026, marks a historic milestone for aviation and space enthusiasts. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is celebrating its 50th anniversary. This significant event is marked by the opening of five brand-new galleries, completing the final major phase of its multi-year, $1 billion renovation project. This grand opening coincides with America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
The five galleries opening today include:
- Flight and the Arts Center
- Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air
- U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe
- RTX Living in the Space Age
- Textron How Things Fly
These exhibitions span a wide range of topics, from artistic representations of flight and World War II airpower to astronomy, space-based technologies, and the fundamentals of aeronautics.
The renovation, which began in 2018 and redesigned all 20 of the museum’s galleries, is nearing completion. Two final galleries are still scheduled to open in fall 2026. The museum first opened its doors to the public on July 1, 1976, coinciding with the U.S. bicentennial.
“As we finish our renovation this year, visitors will now be able to enjoy the Smithsonian’s world-class aerospace collection in a modern facility, one that will last the next 50 years and beyond,” said museum director Chris Browne.
Source: Smithsonian Institution Newsdesk – July 1, 2026