Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility, Aircraft preservation facility in Suitland, Maryland, US
This facility in Suitland is a storage complex with 32 metal buildings that house aircraft, spacecraft, engines, and other aerospace objects from the Smithsonian collection. The site serves as a workshop and archive for thousands of technical artifacts that cannot be displayed elsewhere.
The complex was founded in the early 1950s to store World War II aircraft and received its current name in 1980 to honor curator Paul E. Garber. This renaming marked recognition of the site's vital role in preserving aviation history.
The facility holds one of the world's largest collections of spacesuits from the American space program, including suits from Mercury and Apollo missions. Visitors can observe how these historic objects are preserved and understand their importance to space exploration.
The site typically requires advance registration to visit, as it functions as an active workshop. Weekday visits work best if you want to observe conservators and volunteers engaged in preservation work.
In 2010 the roof of warehouse 21 collapsed during a blizzard, damaging several historic aircraft and spacecraft inside. This emergency prompted the development of new protective measures for the fragile objects against weather damage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
