The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum might inspire visitors to look to the skies, but many apparently walk away unimpressed.
A new analysis of worldwide museum reviews has ranked the iconic museum as the most disappointing in the world, citing visitor complaints and underwhelming experiences amid ongoing renovations.
The study, conducted by travel luggage company Radical Storage, examined more than 82,000 reviews from the world’s 100 most-visited museums from November 2022 to February 2025, weighing keywords tied to visitor satisfaction.
The Air and Space Museum landed at the bottom, earning a satisfaction score of 7.5 out of 100 — with only 35% of reviewers offering praise and 16% describing the museum as “dull,” crowded or outdated.
The facility, which has drawn millions of visitors since opening in 1976, has been under renovation since 2018, with construction expected to continue until its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Air and Space