NASM Soars Into Its Second Half-Century

Five new galleries debut July 1, marking the museum’s 50th anniversary and completion of an eight-year renovation.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A digital rendering of RTX Living in the Space Age [Credit: National Air and Space Museum]

Key Takeaways:

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having originally opened on July 1, 1976.
On July 1, the museum will debut five new galleries as part of a massive eight-year renovation project that modernized its exhibitions and visitor experience.
The extensive renovation includes the display of 1,400 new items, relocation of 5,200 artifacts, and a redesign of 20 exhibition spaces with new digital and mechanical interactives.
Two more renovated galleries are scheduled to open in the fall, complementing the ongoing anniversary celebrations.

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Fiftieth anniversaries are always cause for celebration—especially when the entity marking the occasion is the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM).

The NASM, one of the most visited galleries in the world, opened to the public on July 1, 1976, as “a gift to the nation for the U.S. bicentennial,” according to its website. On July 1, the museum will open five new galleries to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.