Which Smithsonian museum opened its new building on July 1, 1976, for the U.S. Bicentennial?

The National Air and Space Museum opened its new building on July 1, 1976, for the U.S. Bicentennial.

The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and preserves one of the world’s largest collections of historic aircraft and spacecraft. Its National Mall building opened just days before the Bicentennial anniversary date, making it a major cultural addition to Washington, D.C.’s celebrations.

The collection includes objects connected with aviation history, space exploration, military flight, and scientific research. Famous holdings include the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module Columbia.

The museum is sometimes confused with the National Museum of American History, which also holds important national artifacts. The two institutions are separate Smithsonian museums, but the Air and Space Museum’s 1976 opening was especially associated with the Bicentennial.