Washington’s museums are temporarily closed, but it won’t be long before we’re enjoying them once again, In the meantime, we’d like to give a shout-out to one of our favorites, Seattle’s Museum of Flight. Until the day comes when you can explore it for yourself, you can learn more about this beloved space and even take a virtual tour. Prepare for take-off!

The Museum of Flight, which is located in South Seattle near Tukwila, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the entire world.

Aniello S / TripAdvisor And rest assured, you don’t have to be passionate about planes (or know much about them) to have a great time here.

It all started in 1964, when a small group of aviation enthusiasts realized that important and historic artifacts that really represented the evolution of flight were being lost and destroyed.

The Museum of Flight / Facebook To prevent such history from being destroyed forever, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation was established.

The first exhibits were put on display at the Seattle Center, but by 1975, it was clear that the artifacts and exhibits deserved their own museum.

The Museum of Flight / Facebook The Red Barn, the birthplace of The Boeing Company, was restored in 1983 and used as the first permanent location for the Museum of Flight. It has since been joined by several other buildings.

There are currently over 175 aircraft and space craft here, plus tens of thousands of old artifacts and millions of rare photos.

The Museum of Flight / Facebook There’s even a world-class library for those who want to expand their knowledge.

You should plan to spend several hours, if not most of a day, at the Museum of Flight.

management / TripAdvisor The website is a fantastic resource for planning a visit, especially if it’s your first time or you’re traveling with a group.

In addition to the amazing exhibits, the museum always has ways to enhance your visit.

Jeffrey D / TripAdvisor There’s a 3D movie theater, Shuttle Trainer Tours, and quite a few exclusive events. Many of the events and activities require advanced planning, so joining the museum’s newsletter is recommended.

Normal business hours for the Museum of Flight are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week.

The Museum of Flight / Facebook But in the meantime, you can enjoy a great virtual tour.

Learn more about the Museum of Flight and take a virtual tour here.

Aniello S / TripAdvisor

And rest assured, you don’t have to be passionate about planes (or know much about them) to have a great time here.

The Museum of Flight / Facebook

To prevent such history from being destroyed forever, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation was established.

The Red Barn, the birthplace of The Boeing Company, was restored in 1983 and used as the first permanent location for the Museum of Flight. It has since been joined by several other buildings.

There’s even a world-class library for those who want to expand their knowledge.

management / TripAdvisor

The website is a fantastic resource for planning a visit, especially if it’s your first time or you’re traveling with a group.

Jeffrey D / TripAdvisor

There’s a 3D movie theater, Shuttle Trainer Tours, and quite a few exclusive events. Many of the events and activities require advanced planning, so joining the museum’s newsletter is recommended.

But in the meantime, you can enjoy a great virtual tour.

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Address: 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108, USA