National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum is a Smithsonian Institution museum operating two free-admission facilities in the Washington, D.C. area that house the world's largest collection of aviation and space artifacts (78,000+ objects), serving general public visitors, students, researchers, and event guests with exhibitions, IMAX theaters, and STEM education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Air and Space Museum does
The National Air and Space Museum is a constituent museum of the Smithsonian Institution, a federal trust instrumentality established by act of Congress in 1846. It operates as a nonprofit institution with free general admission across two flagship locations: the National Mall building in Washington, D.C. (opened 1976) and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia (opened 2003). The museum holds the world's largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing over 78,000 objects including the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, and Space Shuttle Discovery, and welcomed 3.1 million visitors in 2024 (over 375 million cumulative since opening).
The museum's core product surface consists of permanent and rotating exhibitions (e.g., America by Air, Destination Moon, Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, RTX Living in the Space Age Hall, U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe opening 2026, At Home in Space opening 2026), supported by the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies research division, IMAX and planetarium theaters, and digital channels including the AirSpace podcast and online collections. Educational programming runs through the Explainers STEM initiative and structured field trip programs.
The museum's revenue model is a hybrid of federal appropriations (approximately 41.9% of revenue in FY 2017), contributions and private grants (39%, including major gifts such as Raytheon Technologies' $25 million in 2022 and NSF's $11 million in 2023), business income from parking, retail, and restaurants (13.1%), investment earnings (4.1%), and government grants and contracts (1.8%). The FY 2024 annual budget totals $167 million. There is no commercial revenue model in the conventional sense; the museum is sustained by the Smithsonian's federal charter, philanthropic fundraising, and ancillary commercial operations managed through Smithsonian Enterprises.
National Air and Space Museum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Air and Space Museum
- Legal name
- Smithsonian Institution
- Website
- https://airandspace.si.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The National Air and Space Museum is a Smithsonian Institution museum operating two free-admission facilities in the Washington, D.C. area that house the world's largest collection of aviation and space artifacts (78,000+ objects), serving general public visitors, students, researchers, and event guests with exhibitions, IMAX theaters, and STEM education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Air and Space Museum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Museum and Cultural Institution
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)
Keywords
Where National Air and Space Museum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
National Air and Space Museum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Federal Appropriations: Government funding from federal appropriations, representing approximately 41.9% of museum revenue (FY 2017). This is the primary recurring revenue stream supporting museum operations.
- Contributions and Private Grants: Private donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Represents approximately 39% of revenue (FY 2017). Includes major donations like Raytheon Technologies' $25 million and NSF's $11 million grants.
- Business Income: Revenue from parking fees ($15 at Udvar-Hazy before 4pm), restaurants, retail stores, licensing, and other commercial operations. Represents approximately 13.1% of revenue (FY 2017).
- Investment Earnings: Returns on endowment and investment portfolio. Represents approximately 4.1% of revenue (FY 2017).
- Government Grants and Contracts: Specific government grants and contracts for research and exhibition projects. Represents approximately 1.8% of revenue (FY 2017).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | General museum admission is free |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Parking at Udvar-Hazy Center |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
National Air and Space Museum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The National Air and Space Museum operates two physical museum facilities (the National Mall building in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA) that house over 78,000 artifacts of aviation and spaceflight history, presenting them through permanent and rotating exhibitions, IMAX/planetarium shows, and educational programming. It complements physical visits with digital content, an online podcast, research through the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, and ancillary paid services such as parking, retail, memberships, and private event hosting.
Product overview
The National Air and Space Museum is the world's premier collection of air and space artifacts, operating as a unified institution with two physical locations: the National Mall building in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. The museum's core offerings center on permanent and rotating exhibitions including 'America by Air,' 'Destination Moon,' 'Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall,' 'Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery,' 'Futures in Space,' 'RTX Living in the Space Age Hall,' and the upcoming 'U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe' (opening July 2026). The museum supports these exhibitions with research through the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, educational programming via the Explainers STEM program, digital content through the AirSpace podcast, and amenities including IMAX theaters and museum stores. The collection encompasses over 78,000 artifacts including the 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, and Space Shuttle Discovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- America by Air
- Destination Moon
- Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
- Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery
- Futures in Space
- RTX Living in the Space Age Hall
- U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe
- At Home in Space
- Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight
- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
- IMAX and Planetarium Theaters
- Explainers Program
- Center for Earth and Planetary Studies
- AirSpace Podcast
- Museum Store
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.1 million visitors in 2024
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use National Air and Space Museum
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
National Air and Space Museum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
National Air and Space Museum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ISS National LabcoreThe ISS National Lab and Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum collaborated on programming at the ASCEND 2026 conference, including sessions on microgravity research, startup opportunities, and ISS heritage preservation. The museum is collecting artifacts and stories for its new 'At Home in Space' exhibit.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Air and Space Museum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: New York City-based museum focused on military and maritime aviation plus space exhibits aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid. Directly comparable to NASM as a major US air and space museum with similar exhibit-and-education model and large tourist draw.
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — Udvar-Hazy Center equivalent: Pima Air & Space Museum: One of the largest aviation museums in the world, located in Tucson, AZ, with a large outdoor aircraft boneyard and indoor hangars. Direct peer in scope (aviation-focused, large artifact collection, restoration facilities).
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: NASA-affiliated visitor complex in Florida displaying Space Shuttle Atlantis, Saturn V, and other space artifacts. Closest direct competitor in the US for space-history tourism and the canonical site for human-spaceflight exhibits.
- Museum of Flight: Seattle-based aviation and space museum with a large collection of commercial and military aircraft, plus a full Space Shuttle trainer. Comparable to NASM in aviation focus, educational programming, and STEM outreach.
- California Science Center: Los Angeles science museum that displays Space Shuttle Endeavour — a direct competitor for space-shuttle tourism in the western US. Comparable as a science/heritage institution with major aerospace artifacts.
- EAA Aviation Museum: Oshkosh, WI-based aviation museum tied to EAA AirVenture, with a large collection of vintage and experimental aircraft. Direct peer focused on aviation heritage with strong enthusiast and educational programming.
- National Naval Aviation Museum: Pensacola, FL-based museum of US naval aviation with extensive aircraft collection and IMAX theater. Comparable to NASM in aviation artifacts, military focus, and museum-with-theater format.
- Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: One of the largest science museums in the Western Hemisphere, with a strong focus on aerospace, transportation, and STEM education. Comparable in scale, science-education mission, and large-format theater offerings.
- Cosmic Charlie (Space Center Houston): Official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, displaying flown spacecraft, lunar samples, and the Space Shuttle replica Independence. Direct peer for space-history tourism in the US.
Broad incumbents
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Sibling Smithsonian museum on the National Mall covering broader American history. Comparable as a federally funded, free-admission Smithsonian museum with overlapping donor base, board leadership, and visitor audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Air and Space Museum social profiles
Digital presenceNational Air and Space Museum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Air and Space Museum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
National Air and Space Museum subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
National Air and Space Museum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Air and Space Museum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Air and Space Museum
What does National Air and Space Museum do?
The National Air and Space Museum operates two physical museum facilities (the National Mall building in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA) that house over 78,000 artifacts of aviation and spaceflight history, presenting them through permanent and rotating exhibitions, IMAX/planetarium shows, and educational programming. It complements physical visits with digital content, an online podcast, research through the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, and ancillary paid services such as parking, retail, memberships, and private event hosting.
Is National Air and Space Museum a public or private company?
National Air and Space Museum is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was National Air and Space Museum founded?
National Air and Space Museum was founded in 1976. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is National Air and Space Museum based?
National Air and Space Museum is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Air and Space Museum make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Federal Appropriations are the primary driver. The others are contributions and Private Grants, business Income, investment Earnings and government Grants and Contracts.
Who are National Air and Space Museum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — Udvar-Hazy Center equivalent: Pima Air & Space Museum, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Museum of Flight, California Science Center, EAA Aviation Museum, National Naval Aviation Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago and Cosmic Charlie (Space Center Houston). Smithsonian National Museum of American History is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does National Air and Space Museum have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Air and Space Museum.
What industry is National Air and Space Museum in?
National Air and Space Museum's product category is Museum and Cultural Institution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAF, Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film), with a secondary code of THAJADAD, Science & Technology Museums. Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 3721.