Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight stands at 9404 East Marginal Way South beside Boeing Field in the Tukwila area on the southern edge of Seattle, Washington. It is among the largest independent air and space museums in the United States, and its location in the home region of the Boeing Company gives it unusual depth in commercial aviation. The Great Gallery, a glass-walled hall, suspends a large number of aircraft overhead, from early flying machines to jet-age fighters, so visitors look up at wings rather than across at displays. Outside, the Airpark holds large airliners that visitors can walk through, including a retired Concorde, the first Boeing 747 prototype and a 707 once used as a presidential aircraft. The Personal Courage Wing focuses on First and Second World War aviation, while the Space Gallery covers space exploration. Other exhibits cover the early days of Boeing, including a reconstruction of the original Red Barn factory building, and the story of air travel. The museum also sits across from a working airfield, so visitors may watch aircraft arrive and depart. A full visit takes three to four hours, and aviation enthusiasts can spend a full day. Crowds are largest on weekends and school holidays; weekday mornings are calmer, which makes the walk-through aircraft easier to enjoy. Admission is ticketed, with lower youth prices, and entry is free on first Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, when queues are longer. Getting there from downtown by public transport takes some planning, using Metro RapidRide F Line or Route 124, or Link light rail followed by a transfer bus, and there is limited free parking on site. Some of the most popular aircraft tours have timed access or limited capacity, so check availability on arrival. Photographers will find the Great Gallery particularly rewarding in daylight.