Field Trips To The National Air & Space Museum

The Air & Space Museum is one of the essential stops on a visit to Washington D.C. It is the most visited Museum in the world, and for good reason. Housed inside are exhibits like the Wright Brothers’ plane, the Apollo 11 command module, and other more modern exhibits like the Einstein Planetarium and an IMAX theater.
Despite a patronage of more than 8 million people a year, the large, cavernous building accommodates crowds nicely. One hardly notices the throngs of people that are actually in the facility, as most are engaged in viewing the museum’s aeronautical treasures, many of which are suspended from the ceiling. Exhibits include the 'Wright Flyer'- the original plane from Kitty Hawk, The Spirit of St. Louis, and the X-15, the fastest plane ever built.
Besides the interesting artifacts, the National Air & Space Museum has interactive stations that teach visitors about the principles of flight and aerospace technology. The 'How Things Fly' gallery alone has over fifty interactive displays, more than enough to answer all the questions you've ever had about how those huge airliners get off the ground.
The National Air & Space Museum also has several new attractions, including “Earth Today: A Digital View of Our Dynamic Planet.” This fascinating, high-tech display is connected to satellites and numerous data collection centers located all over the planet, providing real time depictions of Earth. Track storms and weather patterns in progress, or locate minute-long earthquakes anywhere in the world.
Children (and many adults) will want to check out the Langley Theater’s IMAX movies that are projected on five-story high screens, or see one of the shows in the Einstein Planetarium. Either of these activities can prove a welcomed break, as on busy days the museum has few unoccupied places to rest. The show in the planetarium is a bit dry, but the experience of actually being in one makes up for anything lacking in performance.