Today in Smithsonian History: September 17, 1988

Interior of the NASM restaurant. (Photo by Eric Long)

September 17, 1988 The grand opening of the new National Air and Space Museum Restaurant is celebrated with a ribbon-cutting, an enormous cake made in the shape of the restaurant, prizes and a food trivia quiz. The architectural firm of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, which designed the museum, also developed the design for the restaurant. Construction on the addition to the museum, which seats 960, began in March of 1987. The facility included a self-service cafeteria, “Flight Line,” and a full-service dining room, “Wright Place.”

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives

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