Aviation museums offering free admission on Museum Day, September 18
Between shutdowns of public spaces, staff layoffs, and budget cuts, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on museums and cultural attractions across the United States.
But that won't stop close to 1,000 museums, zoos and cultural centers from opening their doors for free on Saturday, September 18 as part of Museum Day 2021. Coordinated by Smithsonian magazine (and canceled last year due to COVID-19), the event celebrates the reopening of museums and the return of arts and cultural experiences with this year's theme of Experience America.
"In a year that has challenged us in us in unprecedented ways it is our hope that this year's event serves as a reminder of the people, places and cultural experiences that have the power to unite us all," said Amy Wilkins, chief revenue officer at Smithsonian Media.
Each participating museum will offer free admission to guests who present a museum day ticket that has been downloaded from the Museum Day site. Visitors may request one ticket per email and each ticket provides general admission to the ticket holder and one guest.
In addition to offering what can be quite a hefty savings on admission fees, Museum Day 2021 gives guests a chance to revisit a favorite museum or explore a new one they may have been curious about. For AvGeeks, Museum Day offers yet another excuse to visit an aviation or space-themed museum.
Choosing a museum to visit for free
The Museum Day website makes it easy to find a participating museum to visit. You can search by zip code, by state, or by type of museum. Under "Air & Space" we found 27 museums listed, but there are many more museums that are home to aviation or space-related artifacts tucked under the "Science" and "History" categories.
If you find a museum that interests you, be sure to download your ticket right away; some museums have already sold out. And keep in mind that at some museums you may be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and exchange your Museum Day ticket for a timed entry ticket.
Here is a sampling of the aviation museums participating in Museum Day 2021:
Seattle, WA: The Museum of Flight (regular adult admission: $25) is a regular Museum Day participant and this year pass holders will be able to enjoy the museum's new exhibit, Stranger Than Fiction – The Incredible Science of Aerospace Medicine and enjoy family workshops based on the exhibit themes.
Titusville, FL: American Space Museum (regular adult admission: $10): Exhibits include everything from spacecraft parts to astronaut suits, to Soviet cosmonaut mementos. The museum has John Glenn's hard hat from Project Mercury, the stuck thruster that almost killed Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott in Gemini VIII, working mission control consoles from Apollo and the Shuttle program and galleries dedicated to Women of Space, unmanned missions, and the future of space.
Hutchinson, KS: Cosmosphere (regular adult admission: $24.50): In addition to the having the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow, this Smithsonian affiliated museum boasts a collection of U.S. space artifacts that it claims is second only to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Museum Day tickets provide entry to the Cosmosphere's Hall of Space Museum, which features everything from an Apollo 11 moon rock and an MIR sleeping bag to the Replica Bell X-1 Rocket Plane, "Glamorous Glennis," used in the movie The Right Stuff and a 109-foot Gemini Titan rocket.
Dallas, TX: Frontiers of Flight Museum (regular adult admission: $10): This Smithsonian affiliated museum is on the southeast corner of Dallas Love Field and has more than 40 air and space vehicles, 20 galleries (including the Braniff Gallery, the Golden Age Gallery, and a gallery devoted to the history of Southwest Airlines), and thousands of historical artifacts. As part of Museum Day, the museum is opening the cockpits of many aircraft and providing access to the Flight Simulator Lab from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
New York, NY: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (regular adult admission: $33): The Intrepid is a legendary aircraft carrier and a National Historic Landmark that is big enough to house 28 aircraft, the space shuttle Enterprise, a British Airways Concorde, and Growler, the only guided missile submarine open to the public.
If you miss getting free admission to an aviation museum during this year's Museum Day event, don't fret. Admission is free year-round to the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., which is home to national treasures such as the 1903 Wright Flyer and Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Free year-round admission extends to the museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, just a few miles of Washington Dulles Airport (IAD), which houses the space shuttle Discovery, an Air France Concorde, and other large aviation treasures.
Photo courtesy Museum of Flight
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide.§ *Eligible charges vary by property.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.