posted 01-15-2016 04:53 PM               

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Offers Look Behind Hangar Doors

Public Invited to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Open House

Visitors will have a chance to see what goes into restoring, preserving and displaying America's aviation and space treasures at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Open House Saturday, Jan. 30, in Chantilly, Va. For one day only, visitors can tour areas usually off-limits to the public, including the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar and the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory. The daylong event includes behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on activities for all ages. Visitors can:

• Meet curators, conservators, archivists and other specialists and learn how they care for objects in the museum's collection.
  
• Tour the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar and see the museum's current projects, including the Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder Flak-Bait, Horton HO 229 V3 and the Gemini IV and Friendship 7 spacecraft.
  
• Visit the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory and learn about how the museum restores and preserves artifacts like the original studio model of the Star Trek starship "Enterprise."
  
• Find out how aircraft are suspended for display in the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
  
• See how the museum's most fragile artifacts are cared for and stored.
  
• Discover the research that is needed before a restoration project can begin.
  
• Get tips for photographing objects in the museum from a staff photographer.

dmission to the museum and Open House is free; parking is $15. For more information about this event, visit on the museum's website.