The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum has opened newly renovated spaces to the public, including five galleries, a rejuvenated IMAX theater, and a bold new entrance on the National Mall.

For over a decade, Quinn Evans has worked to modernize one of the world’s most visited museums into a high-performance, resilient, and welcoming place for millions of visitors. Now, as guests make their way into the museum, they are greeted by a stunning new entrance vestibule offering a sheltered, climate-controlled space for security checks. Its distinctive shape draws inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s designs for flying machines and the motion of birds in flight, creating an inviting and exciting gateway into the museum’s renovated interior.

The museum continues to be a place of discovery and inspiration. Beyond the entrance, visitors discover five new or refurbished exhibits including the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, Futures in Space, Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight, World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation, and the Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery.

A guiding tenet of the renovation was meeting our visitors where they are with the use of video boards, tactile items, and hands-on demonstrations, instead of just explaining concepts on information boards.

CHRISTOPHER BROWNE, DIRECTOR OF THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

Additionally, visitors can experience the newly renovated Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, which now features 475 seats, as well as updated finishes, enhanced lighting, and upgraded systems. The improvements provide better accessibility and sightlines for both film screenings and lectures.

This milestone marks the second phase of the museum’s public reopening, following a preliminary phase in October 2022 when eight galleries, the planetarium, and the café reopened. The museum plans to open the remaining exhibits by July 2026 in time for its 50th anniversary.