| Paul E. Garber Facility (Smithsonian) |
Avg. visitor rating:  (15 visitors) |
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Description
- The Paul E. Garber Facility
- The Paul E. Garber Preservation,
Restoration and
Storage Facility, located in Suitland, Maryland,
houses
the National Air and Space Museum's reserve
collection
of historically significant air and space craft.
- Though the facility has been used as an artifact storage and restoration center by the Smithsonian Institution since the mid-19SOs, it was not until 1977 that some of the buildings were opened to the public as a "no frills" museum. On display are approximately 160 aircraft as well as numerous spacecraft, engines, propellers and other flightrelated objects.
- Trained guides conduct free tours. Included is a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration workshop, where skilled craftsmen are restoring and preserving aircraft, satellites and other objects.
- The Garber Facility enables enthusiasts to view much more of the Smithsonian's renowned collection of air and space craft than exhibit space perrnits at the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
- Paul E. Garber, Historian Emeritus and Ramsey Fellow of the National Air and Space Museum, joined the Smithsonian Institution in June 1920 and was responsible for acquiring a large portion of the Smithsonian's current aeronautical collection. In 1980, the Silver Hill Museum was named the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility in recognition of his many years of devoted service.
- Though the facility has been used as an artifact storage and restoration center by the Smithsonian Institution since the mid-19SOs, it was not until 1977 that some of the buildings were opened to the public as a "no frills" museum. On display are approximately 160 aircraft as well as numerous spacecraft, engines, propellers and other flightrelated objects.
- YOU WILL FIND
- MiG-l5 the Soviet sweptwing jet fighter that
fought the
North American F-86 Sabre in the skies over
Korea
- CURTISS JN-4D JENNY-a World War I trainer made
famous by the postwar barnstormers
- APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SATELLITE 6 an
engineering mock-up of the innovative satellite
that sent
health and educational information to remote areas
during the 1970s
- HAWKER HURRICANE IIC-a World War II British
fighter of the type used in the Battle of
Britain
- VOSTOK SPACECRAFT-a one-third scale model of
the craft which carried Yuri Gagarin, the first
man into
space, on April 12, 1961
- J-2 ENGINE-one of the powerplants for the
Saturn
launch vehicles
- and much, much more!
- TOUR INFORMAT10N
- MiG-l5 the Soviet sweptwing jet fighter that
fought the
North American F-86 Sabre in the skies over
Korea
- Free tours of the Paul E. Garber Facility are
available:
- Monday through Friday 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. and I p.m.
- Reservations for tours are required. It is advisable to make reservations at least three weeks in advance to assure that space is available on tours. For reservations and further information, call (202)357-1400(TDD 357-1505) between 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, or write:
- Tour Scheduler
- National Air and Space Museum
- Smithsonian Institution
- Washington, DC 20560
- Tours last between two and three hours. There is no heating or air conditioning in the warehouse-type exhibit areas, so visitors should dress appropriately. Special tours for disabled visitors are available upon request.
- Monday through Friday 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. and I p.m.
- DIRECTIONS
- From Washington, D. C. Take Pennsylvania
Avenue to
Branch Avenue (which is 0.9 mile past Rt. 1-295).
Turn
right on Branch Avenue and follow it 2.2 miles to
Iverson
Mall (on right); make left at stoplight; go one
block; turn
left again; Facility is on immediate right.
- Alternate shorter route: Take Suitland Parkway 1/2 mile inside Maryland stateline (posted) to Branch Avenue (Rt. 5 South). Turn right on Branch Avenue (just past Naylor Road stoplight); go 0.8 mile to Iverson Mall (on right); make left at stoplight; go one block; turn left again; Facility is on immediate right.
- From Virginia Take Capital Beltway (1-495/95) over Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Exit 4B, St. Barnabas Road (Rt. 414 East); follow St. Barnabas Road for 3 miles (7 stoplights) to intersection at Silver Hill Road; continue through intersection; Facility is on immediate right.
- From Maryland Take Capital Beltway (1-495/95) to Branch Avenue, Silver Hill Exit (Rt. 5 North); make a left, go one block to traffic light (Jct. Rt. 5) go right and follow Rt. 5 for I mile to St. Barnabas Road (Rt. 414); continue on St. Barnabas 1/2 mile to Facility, directly across Silver Hill Road intersection.
- Alternate shorter route: Take Suitland Parkway 1/2 mile inside Maryland stateline (posted) to Branch Avenue (Rt. 5 South). Turn right on Branch Avenue (just past Naylor Road stoplight); go 0.8 mile to Iverson Mall (on right); make left at stoplight; go one block; turn left again; Facility is on immediate right.
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Reviews / Comments by our visitors
| Mike , Virginia |  http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/ 08/11/2007 @ 22:06 [ref: 6224] |
| bob , Hawaii | wonderful! 03/14/2007 @ 17:25 [ref: 5735] |
| Anon , Maryland |  The webmaster for this site must be asleep or stupid...there are no more tours of Garber...TAKE DOWN THIS PAGE!!! 10/03/2006 @ 12:16 [ref: 5308] |
| Robert H Formby , Florida | Col. Willard Wesley Millikan was 113th Fighter Wing CO in 1954 when he set the transcontinental speed recordin a North American F86F. I know because I prepared the WAC charts for a northern route and a southern route depending on what the wx would be. From Ontario Calif to at the (at that time) Idlewild airport.The F86 was borrowed from the NY ANG. He dropped his external tanks in lake Erie and He ended up making a dead stick landing at Idlewild. 04/16/2006 @ 20:14 [ref: 4972] |
| Angela , District of Columbia | The Garber Facility is closed to the public. There are no more tours here. 07/07/2005 @ 15:45 [ref: 4215] |
| Scott Shea Londonderry, New Hampshire | BEST MUSEUM IN THE NORTH! 10/15/2004 @ 20:34 [ref: 3488] |
| Steve Valley Forge, Pennsylvania | The exhibits have been moved to the new branch of the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Since there is no listing for that specifically here , my comments are for visiting that new museum. The new facility is fantastic and will improve during its first year as they continue to bring in craft and adjust exhibits. You name it, it is there from the Concord to the Enola Gay an even the Enterprise Shuttle. Check out the website for details. I believe that it is www.nasm.si.edu. In my experience, the museum is only rivalled by Duxford Airfield north of London. duxford.iwm.org.uk 10/06/2004 @ 09:41 [ref: 3449] |
| P. A. Schenck , California | I was there a few weeks ago. Great tour! Worth while for anyone interested in aircraft. They are moving their exhibits to a new facility at Dullas Airport, so some of the hangers at Silver Hill are not open on the tour. It is still worth it and the facility at Dullas will be even better. 08/02/2002 @ 16:04 [ref: 2325] |
| Carl Anderson Aberdeen, South Dakota | I visited the facility a number of years ago. I've been telling anyone who has any interest in aviation they must go themselves. They must have one of every kind of flying machine ever built. 07/08/2001 @ 05:18 [ref: 1266] |
| Bruce A. King Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota | If you go to any aviation museum...go here!!! Incredible display of one of a kind aircraft, very personalized tour. DONT miss it! 05/06/2001 @ 11:46 [ref: 1083] |
Last updated: 02/14/00.
Send corrections/additions by e-mail to museum-info@brooklyn.cuny.edu