Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: Fun for the Whole Family

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Photo Credit: Smithsonian

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA is everything you would imagine a National Air and Space Museum should be. It is the sister facility to the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC, which when combined, they are the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. Visitors of all ages can enjoy viewing the various aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and engines displayed throughout the museum, and tour guides are available to provide information about all of the historical pieces.The futuristic architecture immediately greets its patrons as they enter into the main area. As they continue through the main lobby, they pass ticket counters and information booths for featured IMAX movies as well as flight simulators. As they progress forward, the Space Shuttle Enterprise is housed in the background in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. Walking continually forward and looking down into the open area, visitors immediately spot the majestic Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird in the Boeing Aviation Hangar. To the left are historic planes such as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, an Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde, a prototype of the Boeing 707, and several WWII planes. To the right are modern aviation marvels such as the F-14 Tomcat, an F-4 Phantom, and a prototype of the F-35 Lightning.

The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar not only houses the Space Shuttle Enterprise, it has 152 “large” space artifacts for public viewing. Some of these include: an instrument ring segment from a Saturn V rocket, several satellites and telescopes, cruise missiles, a space shuttle main engine, and a Gemini paraglider research vehicle. Additionally, there are hundreds of smaller artifacts displayed in the hangar including space suits and a NASA-built android.

Space Shuttle Enterprise, Photo Credit: Kerri Phillips

Spectators can also visit the Donald D. Engen observation tower to get a 360 degree view of Dulles International Airport and surrounding terrain. Visitors watch as aircraft take off and land at the airport and can hear air traffic controller conversation. On the lower level of the tower, there is a complete display of air traffic control equipment. Finally, if you get hungry during your visit there is a McDonald’s and McCafe available in addition to the typical museum gift shop. If you are looking for a fun, family day trip during your visit to the Washington, DC area, do not miss visiting this historic museum.

Missions » Apollo »

Posts associated with the Apollo mission

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  • When a Man Grows a Beard: Remembering Apollo 7, OTD in 1968
  • Lost Moon: Reconstructing the Missions of Apollos 18, 19, and 20 (Part 2)
  • Lost Moon: Reconstructing the Missions of Apollos 18, 19, and 20 (Part 1)
  • “The Slightest Glitch”: Remembering The Fire, OTD in 1967
  • Walt Cunningham, Last Apollo 7 Crewman, Dies Aged 90
  • “We Shall Return”: Remembering Apollo 17, 50 Years On
  • “Lighting Up the Sky”: Remembering Apollo 17’s Artificial Dawn, 50 Years On
  • Into the Lunar Mountains: Remembering Apollo 16, 50 Years On
  • The Slightest Glitch: Remembering Apollo 1, OTD in 1967
  • A Very Unique Place: Remembering the First Deep-Space EVA, Five Decades On
  • Riding a Giant Spring: Remembering Apollo 9, OTD in 1969
  • We Shall Return: Remembering Apollo 17’s Departure from the Moon, OTD in 1972
  • ‘SCE to Aux’: Remembering Apollo 12’s Hair-Raising Launch, OTD in 1969
  • ‘As It Really Was’: Remembering Apollo 7, OTD in 1968
  • Landing in “The Drink”: Remembering America’s Oceanic Returns from Space (Part 2)
  • Game of Solitaire: Remembering Apollo 13’s Lost Moonwalks, 50 Years On (Part 2)
  • ‘Driven By Confidence’: Remembering Apollo 13’s Lost Moonwalks, 50 Years On (Part 1)
  • ‘Our Finest Hour’: Remembering Apollo 13, 50 Years On (Part 4)
  • ‘Up to You Now’: Remembering Apollo 13, 50 Years On (Part 3)
  • ‘We Have a Problem’: Remembering Apollo 13, 50 Years On (Part 2)
  • ‘Bored to Tears’: Remembering Apollo 13, 50 Years On (Part 1)
  • Apollo 15 Veteran Al Worden Dies at 88
  • Remembering The Fire, Project Apollo’s Worst Day
  • ‘For One Priceless Moment’: Celebrating Apollo 11, 50th Anniversary Month (Part 4)
  • ‘The Eagle Has Landed’: Celebrating Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Month (Part 3)
  • ‘Except That It Is Moving’: Celebrating Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Month (Part 2)
  • ‘Launch Commit’: Celebrating Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Month (Part 1)
  • ‘We Have Arrived’: Remembering Apollo 10, 50 Years On (Part 3)
  • “We Didn’t Know the Questions”: Remembering Apollo 10, 50 Years On (Part 2)
  • ‘It’s Been A Long Way’: Remembering the Return of the Rookie, 50 Years On
  • ‘More Confidence Than Ever’: Remembering Apollo 9, Launched 50 Years Ago (Part 2)
  • ‘Not Supposed To Happen’: Remembering Apollo 9, 50 Years On (Part 1)
  • ‘Isn’t That Enough?’ Remembering Grissom, White and Chaffee, Fallen Crew of Apollo 1
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  • Riding the ‘Big Maumoo’: 50 Years Since Apollo 7 Brought America’s Lunar Goal Closer (Part 1)
  • The Day the Saturn V Almost Failed: 50 Years Since Apollo 6
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  • Intruders in a Foreign Land: 45 Years Since Apollo 16 Almost Didn’t Land on the Moon (Part 2)
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  • Buzz Aldrin Flies with the Thunderbirds over Kennedy Space Center
  • ‘More Confidence Than Ever’: Remembering the Trailblazing Mission of Apollo 9 (Part 2)
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  • Grissom, White, and Chaffee: On 50th Anniversary of Apollo 1 Fire, America Remembers
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  • The ‘No Sense’ Mission: 50 Years Since the Rise and Fall of Apollo 2 (Part 1)
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