The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will hold an open house at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Saturday, Jan. 30, in Chantilly, Va.
For one day only, visitors can tour areas usually off-limits to the public, including the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar and the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory.
The daylong event includes behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on activities for all ages.
Visitors can:
- Meet curators, conservators, archivists and other specialists and learn how they care for objects in the museum’s collection.
- Tour the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar and see the museum’s current projects, including the Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder Flak-Bait, Horton HO 229 V3 and the Gemini IV and Friendship 7 spacecraft.
- Visit the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory and learn about how the museum restores and preserves artifacts like the original studio model of the Star Trek starship “Enterprise.”
- Find out how aircraft are suspended for display in the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
- See how the museum’s most fragile artifacts are cared for and stored.
- Discover the research that is needed before a restoration project can begin.
- Get tips for photographing objects in the museum from a staff photographer.
Admission to the museum and open house is free; parking is $15.