Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Space Shuttle Discovery, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and the Enola Gay share a single roof at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the vast companion facility to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. It sits beside Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia and opened in 2003, funded in large part by aviation leasing pioneer Steven F. Udvar-Hazy.

Most of the collection fills two enormous hangars. In the Boeing Aviation Hangar, aircraft rest on the floor and hang from the trusses at several heights, viewed from ground level and elevated walkways. Highlights include an Air France Concorde and the Boeing 367-80 prototype that led to the 707. The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar centres on Discovery, surrounded by rockets, satellites and spacecraft. Visitors can watch conservators at work in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar or follow Dulles traffic from an observation tower.

The center draws around 1.6 million visitors a year and suits aviation enthusiasts and families alike. A thorough visit easily fills several hours.