Air and Space in VA

[Hillbeans]

We're planning a visit for this upcoming weekend and i'm leaning more towards going to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in VA instead of the one on the mall in DC. Anyone have any recommendations or touring tips? I would love to see the Concorde, and Discovery if possible.

 

[wdwmom2]

We went last summer, it was outstanding!! No real tips, just give yourself plenty of time, LOTS of aircraft to see.

They also have several IMAX movie theaters. We saw Hubble. It was so worth while!!! I would pay to see it again.

We didn't go up into the observation tower, just forgot. Lots of planes coming and going from Dulles airport, which is right next door.

Have a great time!!!

 

[TheAviator]

The one in DC is really great though, you may want to consider doing both, there are many extremely historic planes and vehicles there including the Apollo 11, Mercury and Gemini capsules. Apollo 11 was the one that involved the original moon landing, the lunar lander is there as well. There are several historic planes like the Howard Hughes racer (not the spruce goose), early WWI planes, cold war missiles including some soviet union ones, and just too much to name. What's cool about the DC museums is most of them are all right there together and you can walk to that one then do the Natural History one which is walking distance. NH is my 2nd favorite, its the one with the dinosaur bones and stuff.

 

[bdcp]

I live about 5 miles west of the Udvar-Hazy center and work about 3 miles south of it, so we've been there a few times. I know a couple of docents there too. It's a great place to visit. It's open/airy/bright and there is lots to see. Make sure you go up the tower and watch planes take off and land. You also can hear communications from the real Dulles airport tower. There are a lot of displays and we just tackle it by just walking and retracing steps sometimes. The IMAX movies are good also, but are an additional cost. Parking is $15 per car and the parking lot is huge. The Air and Space museum on the mall is a different experience but also a lot of fun. We've obviously done everything having grown up in the DC area.

 

[Hillbeans]

Thanks everyone! I just printed off a floor plan and it looks like an amazing museum with everything we want to see. Unfortunately we only have one full day in the area so we had to pick one museum or the other. I'll update after our visit.

 

[mtemm]

my sister lives fairly close to it so we have gone quite a few times. They offer free tours, and I highly recommend them! we started with one (you sign up at the desk near the blackbird) a few years back but my kids were young and antsy so we ended up veering away from the tour. some day I want to do the whole thing.

have fun!

 

[minniebeth]

Both are great, and if you have time for only one, you won't be disappointed with the UH center~ we lived in the DC area and never went, but did going back as a 'tourist' and it was one of our kids' favorite highlights! Enjoy!

 

[DVC-Don]

Nice museum. My son and I spent a day and a half at the annex a couple of years ago.

 

[daemom]

We've been to the one on the mall a few times, so we're anxious to see this one. Didn't they film a part of one of the "Transformers" movies here?

 

[bcla]

We've been to the one on the mall a few times, so we're anxious to see this one. Didn't they film a part of one of the "Transformers" movies here?

That's the one. It was featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It was named after a guy who donated a boatload of money to the Smithsonian to help pay for the construction of the building. The SR-71 on display turned into a former Decepticon.

 

[daemom]

That's the one. It was featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It was named after a guy who donated a boatload of money to the Smithsonian to help pay for the construction of the building. The SR-71 on display turned into a former Decepticon.

My boys definitely want to visit this one on our upcoming trip. Thanks for the confirmation!