Apollo 11
Columbia module.
Gunnar Klack — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · DiscoA340 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Smithsonian museum of human flight and space exploration, whose main building opened on the National Mall in 1976. It welcomed 3.1 million visitors in 2023, making it the fourth most visited museum in the United States. Almost all the aircraft and spacecraft on show are originals rather than replicas, among them the Wright brothers' aircraft, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia that carried astronauts to the Moon, the Friendship 7 capsule and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Aircraft hang from the ceilings of vast halls, and the galleries tell the story of flight from the first balloons to jets, rockets and planetary probes, a big favourite with children and families. Entry is always free but needs a free timed-entry pass booked in advance on the museum's website, and it is usually open 10:00–17:30, per the museum's official site. The pass does not limit how long you stay.
Columbia module.
The original.
Aircraft overhead.
National Mall, near L'Enfant Plaza, Washington
National Gallery of ArtOne of the foremost art museums in the United States, on the National Mall, foun4 minutes walk4.9
United States Botanic GardenThe oldest continually operating botanic garden in the United States, at the foo8 minutes walk4.9
National Museum of Natural HistoryThe Smithsonian's natural history museum on the National Mall, opened in 1910 in8 minutes walk4.7
National Museum of American HistoryThe Smithsonian museum of the heritage of the United States in social, political12 minutes walk4.8
United States CapitolThe seat of both houses of the United States Congress, on Capitol Hill at the ea12 minutes walk4.8Entry is free, but you need a free timed-entry pass booked in advance on the museum's official site.