The Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington will be getting a facelift thanks to a $30 million donation from Boeing. Part of the funds will go to renovating the main hall, the “Milestones of Flight” exhibit.
The museum said that the new “Milestones of Flight” will be finished by 2016, when the museum celebrates its 40th anniversary. That also coincides with boeing’s 100th anniversary. It will trace the evolution of flight and how each development from around the world is linked, stretching from one entrance of the museum to the other.
“We are grateful to Boeing for this magnificent contribution,” Museum Director Gen. J.R. “Jack” Dailey said in a statement. “It will enable us to create an exciting new exhibition concept inspired by innovators, from the Wright brothers to today’s space explorers, and to develop educational experiences for generations of innovators to come.”
Boeing Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said the company is “honored to help preserve the legacy of pioneers who transformed an industry and influenced generations of innovators.”
The newly named “Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall” will feature some familiar objects, like Charles Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis” and Mercury “Friendship 7,” and new ones like a model of the “Enterprise” from Star Trek.
According to USA Today, the museum is going to rotate objects during the construction so that visitors won’t miss anything during their trips. “We're going to move things around, too, so that we keep as many icons of the collection on display as we can,” Daily explained.