The world’s most visited museum—the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum on Washington’s National Mall—now has a companion. On 15 December 2003, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened near Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Virginia, 25 miles west of the Washington museum.
The museum on the Mall opened on 4 July 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. It currently welcomes almost 11 million visitors a year. The new museum near Dulles initially was expected to have some 2.5 million visitors per year—still a respectable attendance. But from its first day the Dulles complex has experienced higher-than-expected attendance. A further increase is expected when more exhibits are added.
Even as the downtown museum was being built, it was obvious that with only 161,000 square feet of floor space the facility would accommodate only a small fraction of the aviation and space artifacts held by the Smithsonian. Accordingly, there was almost immediate interest in a museum annex. The problem was money; no government funds were available for an additional museum. But under the leadership of retired Navy Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen, National Air and Space Museum director from 1996 until his death in a glider accident in 1999, plans for the new complex were completed and sufficient funds were raised from private sources. The plan became reality when Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, a businessman, pilot, and aviation enthusiast, pledged $65 million to the project. In recognition of his contribution, the new museum has been named to honor the Hungarian-born president and chief executive officer of International Lease Finance Corporation of Los Angeles.
The new museum is housed primarily in an impressive, modernistic, ten-story, hangar-like structure designed by architect Bill Hellmuth. His firm previously designed the main museum building in Washington. The Udvar-Hazy Center has approximately 760,000 square feet of floor space, with artifacts mounted at various heights within the structure as well as on the ground level. Balconies permit visitors to view the suspended aircraft up close.
The aviation hangar is divided into a civilian-commercial aviation area and a larger military aviation area. A Boeing 367-80 (the prototype for the 707) and a BAC/Aerospatiale Concord dominate the former area, while the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay and a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird are the largest aircraft in the military area. Connected to the aviation hangar is the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, containing missiles, rockets, spacecraft, and the space shuttle Enterprise. (The Enterprise never left the earth’s atmosphere, but was a test vehicle; portions of the leading edges of her wings recently were removed to help investigators of the Columbia shuttle disaster.)
More than 80 aircraft and 60 major space artifacts currently are on display. In addition, there are numerous aircraft engines, instruments, missiles, flight gear, and uniforms. More major artifacts in storage, undergoing restoration, or on loan to other museums are scheduled to be placed in the museum. Eventually, nearly 200 aircraft and 135 space artifacts will comprise the full viewable collection.
Adjacent to the aviation hangar is an IMAX theater with 480 seats, a food court, museum shop, and offices. A massive 164-foot tower, named for Admiral Engen, dominates the skyline of the complex. The tower provides a view of Dulles International Airport and has displays explaining air traffic control. The museum complex is connected to Dulles airport by a taxiway, enabling aircraft to land and be towed to the museum.
At the time of the December 2003 opening—coinciding with the centennial of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight—the National Air and Space Museum’s director, retired Marine General John R. Dailey, announced that the Udvar-Hazy Center had been completed on time and under cost. Under a complex cost-saving agreement the builder was awarded an extra fee, which the firm, Hensel Phelps Constriction Co., promptly contributed to the museum.
While the buildings are funded by donations, the museum staff and other operating expenses are funded by the government. There is no admission fee. There is, however, a parking fee of $12 per vehicle and donations from the public are welcome. The fare for the round- trip shuttle service between the Mall museum and the Center is $7.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is now open for business as the world’s largest airspace exhibit complex.
