National Air and Space Museum Tour: Wright Flyer & Apollo Artifacts

Step inside history with the Wright Flyer and Apollo 11’s original space gear.

A 2.5-hour guided tour of the National Air and Space Museum with a live English-speaking guide who leads you through the museum's current exhibitions, from the original Wright Flyer and Spirit of St. Louis to Apollo-era spacecraft and astronaut equipment. The museum is undergoing multi-year renovation, so exhibits rotate. Your guide adjusts the route based on what's available during your visit and explains the history of American aviation and space exploration as you move through the galleries. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and you can book it as a private experience or join a semi-private group of up to eight people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of Air and Space Museum

• Meet expert guide
• Explore Wright Flyer exhibit
• See Spirit of St. Louis
• View Apollo 11 spacesuit
• Discover Mercury and Skylab artifacts
• Examine Space Shuttle and Hubble models
• Learn about US space program history

The experience

The National Air and Space Museum holds the original artifacts from the moments that defined American flight and space exploration: the 1903 Wright Flyer that first flew at Kitty Hawk, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Mercury capsule John Glenn orbited in, and the Apollo 11 command module that carried astronauts to the moon. A guided tour means you move through the galleries with someone who knows the stories behind these objects and can answer questions as you stand in front of them. The museum is currently in the middle of a major renovation that will last several years, which means some of the exhibits mentioned in historical descriptions may be in storage or behind construction barriers. Your guide works with what's on view that day and plans the route accordingly, so you're not walking into galleries expecting to see something that's been moved.

The tour runs 2.5 hours and covers the evolution from early aviation through the Space Race. Depending on what's currently accessible, you might see the Bell X-1 (the first aircraft to break the sound barrier), backup hardware from Skylab and the Space Shuttle, the Lunar Module, or test vehicles like the Hubble Telescope prototype. The guide provides context for each artifact (why it mattered, what it accomplished, who flew it) rather than leaving you to read placards. Some galleries have quiet or restricted-speech rules. Your guide lets you know before you enter those spaces and handles the narration accordingly.

You'll need to bring a mobile phone number (including country code) when you book. Large bags and suitcases aren't permitted inside. Only handbags or small backpacks pass through security. The museum is wheelchair accessible throughout, and infants or small children can be brought in a stroller. Public transportation stops nearby, and you can arrange your own transport via taxi or rideshare. The tour price doesn't include hotel pickup. Gratuities for the guide are optional and not included in the ticket price.

What’s included

• 2.5-hour guided museum tour with a live English-speaking expert guide.
• access to the current exhibitions at the National Air and Space Museum.
• wheelchair-accessible route through the galleries (on private and family tour options).
• gratuities are optional and not included in the ticket price.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private Museum TourGuide in English · 10:00 and 13:30A private guide just for you!

Family tour for children or teenagers!Guide in English · 10:00 and 13:30Private family-friendly tour for children or teenagers!

Semi-private, maximum 8 people, in English13:30Save money by booking a small group tour with a maximum of 8 guests per guide. This option is not for wheelchairs.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs every day at 10:00 and 13:30, from US$ 105 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate4 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.2 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (under 10)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Babylon Tours DC

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the guide's full attention and flexibility to linger on the artifacts that interest you most. The semi-private group keeps costs down while still keeping the group small enough for real conversation with the guide. Either way, book this tour if you want someone who knows the history to explain what you're looking at instead of reading placards alone, especially valuable right now, when exhibits are rotating and a guide can tell you what's been moved and why.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (under 10).

What happens if the exhibits I want to see are closed for renovation?

The National Air and Space Museum is undergoing multi-year construction, so some galleries and artifacts rotate in and out of view. Your guide adjusts the tour route based on what's currently on display and explains the history of the pieces you do see. The museum's website shows which exhibitions are open during your visit, and you can check it before you book to get a sense of what will be available.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the museum?

Yes. The tour price doesn't include hotel pickup or drop-off. Public transportation options are available nearby, and you can book a taxi or rideshare service like Uber to get there. The museum itself is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options in the area are also wheelchair accessible.

What's the difference between the private tour and the semi-private option?

The private tour is exclusively for your group, and you get a guide dedicated only to you. The semi-private option caps at eight people, which keeps the group small but shares the guide with others. Both options include the same 2.5-hour tour and expert guide. The semi-private version costs less.

Are there any restrictions on what I can bring into the museum?

Large bags and suitcases aren't allowed through security: only handbags or small thin backpacks. Appropriate dress is required for entry. Security lines may form even on tours with skip-the-line access due to increased security measures at the museum.

Is the museum accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces inside the National Air and Space Museum are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is wheelchair friendly. Public transportation options nearby are also wheelchair accessible, so you can arrange your own transport independently.