When most people hear about the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum they automatically think of the museum on the National Mall in Washington D.C. What many don’t know is that that museum has an Annex outside of D.C.
Udvar-Hazy Center
TheSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Annex. It is located 30 miles outside of D.C. in Chantilly, Virginia. Like its companion museum, it is free. The exception being parking, which is $15. After 4:00pm parking is free. The hours are the same as all the other Smithsonian museums, 10:00am – 5:30pm.
Highlights
The Air and Space Annex houses thousands of aviation and space artifacts. You will find everything from the Space Shuttle Discovery, to the Concorde and Enola Gay. Other highlights include the SR-71 Blackbird, Bell UH-IH Iroquois, Goddard Rocket, and the Mobile Quarantine Facility. Artifacts can be found on 3 different levels and can be viewed from the ground or elevated walkways.
Tours
90 minute Guided Tours of the museum are available daily. No reservations are required. We often saw guided tours throughout the facility and could easily listen in to what was being explained.
For Kids
For the kids, there is a one-page Scavenger Hunt called Animals in the Sky. Kids can pick up their Scavenger Hunt and a pencil at the Welcome Center. After finding all the animals, they return to the Welcome Center for a prize. Our kids had a blast looking for the animals. The Scavenger Hunt was a great way to get them interested and involved.
Similarly, there is Flight Simulator Rides and a Cessna 150 that kids can climb into. The Simulator Rides do require a ticket. Likewise, Discovery Stations with opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration are also scattered around the facility. Be on the lookout for them!
Observation Tower
One thing that is easy to miss is the Observation Tower. The elevator to the tower is tucked away near the IMAX Theater. Once at the top, the tower gives you a 360-degree view of Washington Dulles International Airport and the surrounding areas. You can even see the Blue Ridge Mountains on a clear day!
IMAX
If you have time, I highly recommend an IMAX film. Films are shown daily and schedules can be found at the museum box-office or online. If you are interested in a popular film, purchase your ticket online the night before. During our visit, we wanted to see Apollo 11. Being a weekend and a limited-time film, we decided to purchase tickets ahead of time. We are so glad that we did. The film was sold-out!! (It was a terrific documentary, by the way!)
Conclusion
To our surprise and delight, the food in the museum is reasonably priced. A McDonald’s is the only source of food and refreshments, outside of the IMAX concession stand. Picnic tables are available right outside the museum.
Unlike its D.C. counterpart, the Air and Space Annex never seemed crowded. All the aircraft are spread out nicely. It is very stroller and wheelchair-friendly.
If you are visiting Washington D.C. and have time, I highly recommend visiting the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Walking beside a Space Shuttle and underneath hundreds of airplanes is an experience your kids won’t soon forget.
Planning a D.C. vacation? Check out my other posts…
- 4 Days with Kids in Washington D.C.
- Museum of the Bible with Kids
- National Postal Museum & Union Station with Kids
- National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial with Kids
- United States Air Force Memorial with Kids
- DC’s National Building Museum with Kids
- Our Year in Washington, D.C.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post.
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