The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall is scheduled to close its doors to the public on March 28, 2022, due to ongoing renovations.
The construction work that started at the end of 2018 will now take place on the first new galleries in the west wing of the building. It is expected to be finalized in the fall of 2022.
“This closure is needed to ensure the continued safety of visitors. To provide the best visitor experience, the museum’s west-end galleries will open all at one time; their opening date will be announced next year,” the Smithsonian said in a release on Tuesday, November 23.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Virginia, which is part of the museum, will continue operating according to its usual schedule.
Virtual events at the National Air and Space Museum will also be held during the closure.
We can’t wait to unveil our new galleries next year, including updates to favorites on planetary exploration and the Wright brothers and brand-new galleries like “Nation of Speed” and “One World Connected." Learn more about our transformation: https://t.co/TkaouhRKBb pic.twitter.com/yBRASwXVKO
— National Air and Space Museum (@airandspace) November 23, 2021
Among the exhibitions that will open following the completion of renovations are “America by Air,” “The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age,” “Nation of Speed,” “One World Connected,” “Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery,” “Destination Moon,” and more.
The museum’s currently available online programs and activities include:
- Regular online live chats with museum experts and guests such as astronauts
- Online story time
- Virtual scavenger hunts
- And marquee lectures from leaders in aviation and space exploration
To access the museum’s online content, visit airandspace.si.edu.