In 1903 Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world when they flew 120 feet at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Since then, flight evolved from basic biplanes to spacecraft landing on the moon. You can see examples of these and more as you tour America’s best aviation museums.

To see the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, head to Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Currently in the middle of a massive renovation, the museum houses the original 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis and John Glenn’s Friendship 7 spacecraft. Other highlights include a studio model of Star Trek’s Enterprise and models of the Mars test rovers.

For those interested in military aviation, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, displays more than 350 vehicles and missiles spanning both world wars, Asian conflicts, the Cold War and Space Race. Taking center stage, though, is the legendary Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle, the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions during World War II.

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Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver similarly impresses with displays ranging from a Bell UH-1M Iroquois “Huey” to a Boeing B-52B Stratofortress and a three-quarter-scale replica of Luke Skywalker’s X-wing fighter. In Tucson, Arizona, Pima Air & Space Museum, the largest non-government-funded air and space museum in the world, boasts roughly 400 aircraft, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Grumman F-14 Tomcat and Boeing B-29A Superfortress.

Seattle’s Museum of Flight takes a family-friendly approach to aviation. Kids can climb inside several aircraft and a NASA space shuttle full fuselage trainer as well as learn about the history of flight in the Red Barn, Boeing’s original airplane factory. Not surprisingly, the museum features several commercial Boeing aircraft.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, takes the story of flight into space. Outside, 27 missiles and rockets welcome you to the museum while, inside, you’ll find more than 1,500 space artifacts, a planetarium, rides and simulators. Don’t miss the Saturn V Moon Rocket, a national historic landmark, and the G-Force Accelerator, free with general admission.