13 Incredible Space Museums in the U.S. Every Traveler Should Visit

"One of the largest science centers in the U.S., this museum offers always-free general admission (with extra fees for special exhibitions), and the big draw is the space shuttle Endeavour, which is off display until the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens—construction has been completed and exhibits are being installed, so sign up for the Science Center's newsletter for updates. In the meantime, visitors can watch an interactive interior tour of Endeavour and a time-lapse film of the shuttle being assembled or "stacked" over a period of six months. At the Science Center, you’ll also be able to see the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule that carried Ham the chimpanzee into space in 1961, the Gemini 11 capsule, and the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module from 1975. When the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens, it will be the only place in the world to see a complete space shuttle system with a flown orbiter mounted vertically in an authentic "ready-to-launch configuration." - Iona Brannon Iona Brannon Iona Brannon is a journalist with a love for food and travel. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines