The Museum of Flight

You'll enjoy the wonder of aviation in one of Seattle’s most spectacular settings. The 15-acre campus features over 175 air and spacecraft, the original Boeing Aircraft factory, flight simulators, fantastic 3D aviation and space movies, and dozens of fun, interactive exhibits and family activities. With the addition of the Aviation Pavilion—a 3-acre, open-air gallery, showcasing 18 of the world’s most important airliners and military aircraft—The Museum of Flight has more to offer than ever before! When you visit you can climb aboard the supersonic Concorde, the only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer, the beautiful Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the Air Force One that served presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. Stand in the shadow of the infamous M-21 Blackbird spy plane—the fastest aircraft ever flown. The Apollo exhibit, which opened in May 2017, offers an up-close look into the space race and features the original F-1 engines that launched Apollo 11 to the Moon. From the world’s oldest fighter plane to current spacecraft, you’ll see the machines and experience the stories of those who flew them. After touring the galleries, you can enjoy a meal at Wings Café or relax on the airport patio and take in all of the runway action. Take flight with The Museum of Flight!

Read one visitor's experience at The Museum of Flight:
We started our exploration of the world famous aviation museum in The Great Gallery. You can actually sit in the cockpit or two fighter jets. It’s a great photo op!
Next, we headed to the interactive Flight Zone; kids can touch, climb, sit, and push all kinds of buttons. Oftentimes, on weekends there is a story or craft activity for kids. Also in the Flight Zone is a hang-gliding chair older kids, teens and adults enjoy. My three-year-old was too young to appreciate it, she thought it was a swing but my son was really focused and enjoyed the demo. Older kids and thrill-seeking adults can climb into a simulator for a small fee. The simulators allow you to engage the enemy in a high-tech dog fight that will literally have you spinning.

The Personal Courage Wing is devoted to WWI and WWII and is filled with teaching opportunities about our nation’s history for older kids. We walked into the Personal Courage Wing. Our eyes were drawn to the dramatic old fighter planes. My daughter gasped and said "Oh planes are bee-you-tee-full!" She skipped over to see my favorite plane "O'Riley's Daughter" took one look at the plane with teeth on it and exclaimed "Oh that's an angry plane." Cue the bullet sounds on the big speakers. My daughter scattered for cover. I coaxed her out and from behind a display and explained the sounds were just pretend. She “hit the deck” twice while in this wing.

Families with kids may want to do the photo op in the Great Gallery, Flight Zone and then head straight to the pedestrian bridge to visit the Aviation Pavilion with a Concorde and former Air Force One. Both my 3yr and 11yr old waited patiently in line. They were so curious to see the inside of those planes.

9 Quick Tips for Visiting The Museum of Flight
1.To get the most out your family outing have kids fed and napped prior to your visit or arrive early and plan on leaving before they get hungry and tired.
2.Don't expect to stroll through the MOF with small kids in tow and read all of the detailed displays explaining the history and significance of the exhibits. Younger kids will be stimulated visually and may have a struggle standing still for long periods. They may want to stay moving to see all the planes.
3. If you struggle with claustrophobia don't go in the Concorde or Air Force One. The isles are narrow and the ceiling low.
4. Noise Level: my daughter got loud in the Space exhibit. Happy cries of "It's a rocket ship!!" and "ooh the earth" caused people to smile at the sight of a little girl jumping up and down excited to see a rocket ship and the earth. I didn't feel pressure to keep the kids silent. It's a Museum not a library.
5. Food: lunch at the Museum in Wings Café was $26 for the three of us. I had a delicious portabella mushroom veggie sammy on Ciabatta bread. Kids had hot dogs, apple, milk, and ice cream.
6. The Museum of Flight is stroller friendly.
7. Parking is free (Bonus!).
8. We were there for 2 hours and 45 minutes which included our meal time.
9. For a coupon to The Museum of Flight, download the free Seattle Southside Savings Pass

Since our first visit we returned and purchased a membership. It’s a tremendous place to take friends and family when they visit. There you have it people. Enjoy! Take lots of pictures. Have fun and please share your stories with us on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear about your visit!


Visit the Museum of Flight to see Aircraft and Spacecraft Up Close in #SeattleSouthside

Mapped location of The Museum of Flight
9404 E Marginal Way S Tukwila, Washington 98108
(206) 764-5700

Admission

$18 - $26
Website Email

Event Spaces

Event Spaces

Barnstormer Lounge

  • Occupancy: 8 - 12
  • Area: 528 square feet
  • Height: 12 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater Barnstormer Lounge 12 528 sq ft
Classroom Barnstormer Lounge 12 528 sq ft
Banquet Barnstormer Lounge 8 528 sq ft
Reception Barnstormer Lounge 8 528 sq ft

Charles Simonyi Space

  • Occupancy: 180 - 300
  • Area: 14,676 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Banquet Charles Simonyi Space 180 14,676 sq ft
Reception Charles Simonyi Space 300 14,676 sq ft

Great Gallery & Side Gallery

  • Occupancy: 650 - 1000
  • Area: 62,900 square feet
  • Height: 14 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Banquet Great Gallery & Side Gallery 650 62,900 sq ft
Reception Great Gallery & Side Gallery 1000 62,900 sq ft

Great Gallery, Side Gallery, Red Barn, and William

  • Area: 82,000 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Amphitheater 0 0 sq ft

Lockwood Boardroom

  • Occupancy: 18 - 18
  • Area: 672 square feet
  • Height: 10 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Classroom Lockwood Boardroom 18 672 sq ft
Banquet Lockwood Boardroom 18 672 sq ft
Reception Lockwood Boardroom 18 672 sq ft

MOF Complex (Great Gallery, Side Gallery, Red Barn

  • Area: 141,000 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Amphitheater 0 0 sq ft

Northwest Aeroclub Room

  • Occupancy: 36 - 80
  • Area: 1,320 square feet
  • Height: 8 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater Northwest Aeroclub Room 80 1,320 sq ft
Classroom Northwest Aeroclub Room 36 1,320 sq ft
Banquet Northwest Aeroclub Room 60 1,320 sq ft
Reception Northwest Aeroclub Room 80 1,320 sq ft

Parking Lot (For Outdoor Events)

  • Area: 86,950 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Amphitheater 0 0 sq ft

Personal Courage Wing (WWI & WWII Galleries Only)

  • Occupancy: 1000 - 1000
  • Area: 58,000 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Reception Personal Courage Wing (WWI & WWII Galleries Only) 1000 58,000 sq ft

Personal Courage Wing (WWII Gallery only)

  • Occupancy: 500 - 500
  • Area: 29,000 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Reception Personal Courage Wing (WWII Gallery only) 500 29,000 sq ft

Red Barn

  • Occupancy: 60 - 180
  • Area: 15,630 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Banquet Red Barn 60 15,630 sq ft
Reception Red Barn 180 15,630 sq ft

Side Gallery

  • Occupancy: 400 - 700
  • Area: 16,740 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater Side Gallery 700 16,740 sq ft
Banquet Side Gallery 400 16,740 sq ft
Reception Side Gallery 500 16,740 sq ft

Skyline Room

  • Occupancy: 90 - 272
  • Area: 3,600 square feet
  • Height: 10 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater Skyline Room 240 3,600 sq ft
Classroom Skyline Room 90 3,600 sq ft
Banquet Skyline Room 200 3,600 sq ft
Reception Skyline Room 272 3,600 sq ft

South View Lounge

  • Occupancy: 40 - 110
  • Area: 1,782 square feet
  • Height: 9 feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater South View Lounge 100 1,782 sq ft
Classroom South View Lounge 40 1,782 sq ft
Banquet South View Lounge 60 1,782 sq ft
Reception South View Lounge 110 1,782 sq ft

View Lounge

  • Occupancy: 80 - 200
  • Area: 3,267 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater View Lounge 200 3,267 sq ft
Classroom View Lounge 80 3,267 sq ft
Banquet View Lounge 150 3,267 sq ft
Reception View Lounge 200 3,267 sq ft

Weyerhaeuser Room

  • Occupancy: 30 - 60
  • Area: 1,140 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Banquet Weyerhaeuser Room 30 1,140 sq ft
Reception Weyerhaeuser Room 60 1,140 sq ft

William M. Allen Theater

  • Occupancy: 1 - 276
  • Area: 3,612 square feet
Configuration Description Occupancy Area
Theater William M. Allen Theater 276 3,612 sq ft
Amphitheater William M. Allen Theater 1 3,612 sq ft

Social Media Photos

Social Media Photos

Related Content

Mar 30, 2024

Sensory Days

Sensory Days are for families of children, teenagers and young adults with disabilities including intellectual disabilities, autism, sensory processing disorders and other cognitive disabilities. Families…

Read More