Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Tour - Private
About this activity
Explore Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on a 2.5-hour private guided tour with timed entry included. See the 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 Columbia capsule, Neil Armstrong's space suit, and Spirit of St. Louis.
Highlights
- Original 1903 Wright Flyer
- Neil Armstrong space suit and Apollo 11 Columbia Command Module
- Spirit of St. Louis
- Jackie Cochran's T-38 Talon
- Star Wars X-Wing filming model
Full description
An expert-led private museum visit tracing the history of aviation and space exploration. Timed museum entry is included; exhibits may change when artifacts are on loan or under restoration.
For over a century, aviation and space exploration have transformed what people thought possible. At Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, follow that story with a guide dedicated to your group. Begin with the original 1903 Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis, then discover Jackie Cochran's T-38 Talon and the people who advanced flight. Move from early aviation to the Apollo Moon landing, with Neil Armstrong's space suit and the Columbia Command Module among the featured artifacts. The tour also explores the influence of science fiction through the Star Wars X-Wing and Star Trek Enterprise models. Your guide brings context to the aircraft, spacecraft, pilots, and astronauts behind these milestones. Highlights depend on exhibits being available during your visit.
Included / Excluded
- Private guided museum tour with timed entry included
- Professional guide dedicated to your group
- 2.5-hour guided tour
- Museum entry reservation and fees
- Wheelchair-friendly private tour
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
650 Jefferson Drive SW meeting point
Meet your guide at 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC, 10 minutes before the reserved departure. Your guide provides timed entry.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum galleries
A 2.5-hour guided visit with timed entry, featuring the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, Apollo 11 artifacts, Jackie Cochran’s T-38 Talon and the Star Wars X-Wing when on display.
Meeting point
Start Location
Air and Space Museum meeting point — 650 Jefferson Drive SW
650 Jefferson Drive SW
Meet your guide outside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at 650 Jefferson Drive SW, 10 minutes before your tour.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- Please provide a mobile phone number with country code for day-of-tour contact.
- Full refund when cancelled at least 24 hours before the tour starts.
- This private museum tour is wheelchair-friendly.
Know before you go
- TOUR MEETING POINT: Meet your guide at 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC, at the National Air and Space Museum.
- Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- Your guide will facilitate the included timed museum entry.
- Bring a valid photo ID or a clear photo of it.
Cancellation policy
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
We booked this tour to get as much as possible out of our time at The Met. What we didn’t know we were getting was a personalized experience full of captivating stories about the artists' lives and the people who brought the art to the museum. Robin was a wealth of knowledge and a highlight of our trip to New York!
Spent a great day with Charlie he was very engaging and shared lots of information and entertaining stories with us. He took great care of us and we would recommend him for any future tours.
Mark, tour guide for the Metropolitan Museum is an outstanding teacher: engaging; entertaining; professional; personable; experienced and deeply knowledgeable as a result of a lifelong passion and relationship with the Met. He loves what he does and cares deeply about sharing his knowledge and insight to spark curiosity and inspire his clients--his students--to understand context and meaning of each piece or work of art reviewed. My wife, a retired professor emeritas and myself both left thoroughly impressed and grateful to have been taught by best and most captivating guides we have had the privilege of meeting on one of our many travels and adventures. Hire the best. Hire Mark. Worth every penny and every minute of your time you can afford at the Met. Like us, you will look forward to coming back for another teaching session from Mark. In my case, hopefully we will be back on my birthday next year! (Thanks again Mark!)
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
This private museum tour is wheelchair-friendly. Timed entry is included and your guide will facilitate admission. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early. Security screening may involve a wait; large bags and suitcases are not permitted. Exhibits and collections can change when artifacts are on loan or under restoration.