I visited the National Air and Space Museum's lesser-known second location. One display stopped me in my tracks.

I recently explored the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a lesser-known but impressive location in Chantilly, Virginia. Spanning 340,000 square feet, the museum houses over 200 aircraft and spacecraft. What caught my attention was the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's space hangar, home to the historic space shuttle Discovery.

Unlike the Washington, DC flagship location with timed-entry tickets, the Udvar-Hazy Center welcomes visitors without reservations, offering free admission and a modest $15 parking fee. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, an 164-foot-tall landmark providing panoramic views of Washington Dulles International Airport. From the tower, I witnessed planes taking off and landing, immersing myself in the daily hustle of the airport.

Notably, the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the museum's restoration process. As I watched skilled craftsmen work on historic aircraft like the Martin B-26 Marauder, which flew 202 combat missions during World War II, and the Sikorsky JRS-1 seaplane that witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack, I marveled at the dedication to preserving aviation history.

Among the relics on display was the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, a relic that sparked intense debate over the ethical implications of nuclear warfare. The museum also showcased the Boeing 367-80 Jet Transport, the prototype that paved the way for the iconic Boeing 707, America's first commercial jetliner. The 1954-built aircraft, painted in brown and yellow, represented a significant leap in air travel technology.