Aug. 12, 1946: President Truman establishes the National Air Museum

Among other items in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. Credit: Eric Long/National Air and Space Museum

Key Takeaways:

• The Smithsonian Institution's aeronautical artifact collection commenced in 1876 with the acquisition of Chinese kites, expanding significantly after World War I under Secretary Charles Walcott's mandate to preserve historically significant aircraft.
• The National Air Museum was established in 1946 through legislation introduced by Senator Jennings Randolph and supported by General Hap Arnold, driven by a post-World War II desire to preserve aircraft types and leverage public interest in American airpower.
• The museum's name changed to the National Air and Space Museum in 1966, expanding its mission to encompass spaceflight education and commemoration.
• The National Air and Space Museum opened on the National Mall in 1976, achieving rapid prominence as a globally renowned and highly visited institution.

Key takeaways sponsored by The Space Store

The Smithsonian Institution began collecting aeronautical artifacts in 1876, when it acquired 20 Chinese Imperial kites. By the end of World War I, a Section of Aeronatics had been established within the Division of Engineering, and Smithsonian Secretary Charles Walcott had mandated that the institution collect aircraft of historical significance. In particular, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis was a crucial acquisition for the collection. Senator Jennings Randolph introduced a bill to establish a National Air Museum in February 1946, a proposal strongly supported by General of the Army Hap Arnold. The post-WWII timing was no coincidence: Randolph and Arnold hoped to ensure that one of every type of aircraft used during the war would be preserved, and to capitalize on support and sentiment from a public that was very aware of American airpower. On Aug. 12, 1946, President Truman signed the bill into law, establishing the museum.

In 1966, President Johnson signed into law a name-change to the National Air and Space Museum, making education about and commemoration of spaceflight part of its mission. Today, it has about 17,000 artifacts relevant to the exploration of space in its collections. The museum’s home on the National Mall opened in 1976, and it quickly became one of the most visited museums in the world.