Which museum opened its new Washington, D.C., building on July 1, 1976, during the Bicentennial?

The National Air and Space Museum opened its new Washington, D.C., building on July 1, 1976, during the Bicentennial.

The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and documents the history of aviation and spaceflight. Its National Mall building opened shortly before the Bicentennial’s central July 4 celebrations, making it one of the major cultural openings associated with 1976.

Its collections include aircraft, spacecraft, engines, instruments, and other objects connected with flight and exploration. The museum’s location placed it among the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall.

The National Air and Space Museum is distinct from the National Museum of American History, another Smithsonian museum nearby. The latter focuses broadly on American social, political, and technological history, while the Air and Space Museum specializes in flight and space exploration.