National Air and Space Museum - Mall building opening

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's building on the National Mall opened to the public in 1976 to house the Institution's growing collections of aviation and space artifacts. The museum's Mall facility centralized many of the Smithsonian's aviation and space exhibits, complementing earlier displays at other locations such as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It quickly became one of the most visited museums in the world, showcasing artifacts of early flight and the space age.