Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

"Blueprint for Space" from Collier's Magazine

Picture the vision of space flight, as seen in a 1950s Collier's magazine series that explored the collaborative efforts between artists and scientists.

May 5, 1993 – April 30, 1994

Air and Space Museum

100th Anniversary of Count Gianni Caproni

Commemorate the birth of this leader in Italian aviation, who designed Italy's 1st successful aircraft, and see his 1911 wood-and-fabric monoplane, the Caproni CA-9, used in Italy for passenger and military transport.

September 12, 1986 – August 10, 1987

Air and Space Museum

10th Anniversary of Apollo 11

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first landing of astronauts on the moon with videotape, photographs, and items from the mission.

Late 1979 – March 31, 1980

Air and Space Museum

1905 - 1985: 80 Years of Aerospace History

See 10 photographs portraying great events in aerospace history, including the flight of the 1st seaplane, the 1st spacewalk (by a Russian), and the 1stAmerican spacewalk.

January 16, 1985 – June 30, 1985

Air and Space Museum

1986: A Year for Space Science: Comet Halley

Visit these small installations that include a videotape of Comet Halley.

January 1, 1986 – December 18, 1986

Air and Space Museum

2001: A Space Odyssey Immersive Art Exhibit

Immerse yourself in “The Barmecide Feast,” a fully realized, full-scale reflection of the iconic, neo-classical hotel room from the penultimate scene of Stanley Kubrick’s and Arthur C. Clarke’s landmark film.

April 8, 2018 – May 28, 2018

Air and Space Museum

50 Years from Tranquility Base

This case, installed for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, contains artifacts from that historic journey.

March 25, 2019 – March 13, 2020

Air and Space Museum

A New Moon Rises: New Views from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera

A New Moon Rises showcases breathtaking images from Apollo landing sites to majestic mountains that rise out of the darkness of the lunar poles.

February 26, 2016 – January 10, 2017

Air and Space Museum

Above and Beyond

Packed with interactive challenges this exhibition invites you to experience what it takes to make impossible dreams take flight.

August 1, 2015 – January 3, 2016

Air and Space Museum

Aerial Aircraft Carriers

See photographs and a film telling the story of aircraft (mother-ships) that carry other aircraft (parasites)--for example, the Space Shuttle traveling cross-country perched atop a 747.

November 23, 1981 – November 18, 1984

Air and Space Museum

Aerial Firefighting

Trace the history of aerial firefighting in the U.S. through more than 35 historical photographs and film footage of an actual mission that explain the important role of aircraft in the constant battle against wildfires.

December 7, 1984 – Closed

Air and Space Museum

Aerial Inspirations: Silk Batiks by Mary Edna Fraser

Admire 50 of Mary Edna Fraser's large-scale, silk batik art works, which demonstrate the interplay of water, land, and sky patterns. Images are based on her own aerial photography as well as satellite images.

September 9, 1994 – June 4, 1995

Air and Space Museum

Aerobatic Champions

See 2 planes flown in world championship aerobatic competitions.

October 4, 2001 – April 17, 2003

Air and Space Museum

Aeropittura Futurista: Images of Flight in Italian Art (1913-1942)

Learn about Italian Futurism, the first modern art movement to embrace technology as subject matter, in this exhibit of paintings, photographs, documents and books.

June 16, 1989 – October 2, 1989

Air and Space Museum

Aerospace Medicine

Learn about inflight medical care, biodynamics, and the health and safety of air crews and passengers.

1979 – Closed

Air and Space Museum

Air Power in World War II: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Visit the 1st in a series of exhibitions on air power in World War II, each highlighting a particular aircraft.

May 20, 1992 – September 6, 1993

Air and Space Museum

Air Power in World War II: The Arado 243B "Blitz"

See the German-built aircraft Arado, the 1st operational jet bomber.

October 26, 1993 – August 30, 1994

Air and Space Museum

Air Power in World War II: The Grumman F6F Hellcat

See an F6F-5, one of the carrier-based fighter planes of World War II that was responsible for almost 75% of the U.S. Navy's air victories during the war in the Pacific.

April 19, 1995 – April 2, 1996

Air and Space Museum

Air Traffic Control

Tour early and current methods of air-traffic control in all weather conditions.

July 4, 1976 – April 3, 1977

Air and Space Museum

Air Traffic Control in the U.S.: The First 50 Years

Examine the past, present, and future of air traffic control in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of air traffic control in the U.S.

July 6, 1986 – June 1, 1995

Air and Space Museum

Air Transportation

Follow the evolution of air transportation of people, mail, and cargo in this exhibit of early aircraft.

July 1, 1976 – January 9, 2006

Air and Space Museum

AirCraft: The Jet as Art

Jeffery Milstein's supersized images of aircraft in flight transform aviation technology into fine art.

November 25, 2011 – November 25, 2012

Air and Space Museum

Aircraft Models

In several cases, see a selection of several hobby model airplanes, ranging from balsa wood to expensive models that require hours of meticulous work.

January 27, 2000 – May 24, 2005

Air and Space Museum

Aircraft Models

Visit a selection of some 50 finely crafted military and civilian aircraft models of different scale, representing aircraft technology since the early 20th century.

July 29, 1982 – Late 1998

Air and Space Museum

Aircraft Models Celebrating the U. S. Air Force 50th Anniversary

On view are 39 models of Air Force aircraft from 1947 to the present.

November 22, 1996 – December 8, 1997

Air and Space Museum