Which United States museum opened its new building on July 1, 1976, during the Bicentennial?

The National Air and Space Museum opened its new building on July 1, 1976, during the United States Bicentennial.

The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and preserves aircraft, spacecraft, and objects connected with aviation and space exploration. Its National Mall building opened just days before the July 4 Bicentennial climax, making it one of the major cultural openings associated with the anniversary.

The museum's location and timing were especially significant because the Bicentennial celebrations emphasized American history, science, technology, and national achievement. Exhibits presented the development of flight alongside milestones from the Space Age, connecting early aviation with modern exploration.

The museum is sometimes confused with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, which also focuses on the nation's past. The National Air and Space Museum, however, has a specific focus on flight and space. Its original Washington building opened in 1976; the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport opened much later, in 2003.