For centuries, humans have dreamed of flying to the Moon. In 1959, our machines actually began to go there. A decade later, humans walked on its surface.
The Destination Moon exhibition features iconic objects from the Museum's unrivaled collection of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo artifacts, including Alan Shepard's Mercury spacesuit and spacecraft, a Saturn V F-1 engine, and Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit and command module Columbia. The gallery shows how an extraordinary combination of motivations, resources, and technologies made it possible for humans to walk on the Moon—and how and why we are going back today.
The entrance to the gallery.
There are many iconic objects on display in Destination Moon, including command module Columbia and Neil Armstrong's Apollo spacesuit.
The Museum gratefully acknowledges those who have generously supported this gallery.
Jeff Bezos
Apollo 11 Commemorative Coin Program Joe Clark
Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences
Bruce R. McCaw Family Foundation
Aerojet Rocketdyne
Elizabeth H. and James S. McDonnell III Fund
(at the St. Louis Community Foundation)
and the JSM Charitable Trust
Bonnie and Wick Moorman
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
Gregory D. and Jennifer Walston Johnson
John and Susann Norton
Neil Webber
Barry D. Friedman
Leora and Derek Kaufman
FedEx Corporation
Milann H. Siegfried
Joan and Donald Beall
Hon. Linda Hall Daschle and Hon. Tom Daschle
Jamie and Kasey McJunkin
OMEGA
Bob O'Rear & Family
Robert Procop
Exploring the Planets Gallery
A major renovation is underway as we reimagine our galleries and presentation spaces in our iconic National Mall building in Washington, DC. Join us as we inspire a new generation of pioneers and explorers.