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of 7.5 out of 100 — with only 35% of reviewers offering praise and 16% describing the museum as “dull,” crowded or outdated.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 Museum attracts about 3.1 million visitors a year, making it the Smithsonian’s third most-visited property behind the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History, according to publicly released museum data.
While it once drew 6 million to 7 million annually, it remains one of the most popular museums in the U.S. as attendance continues to recover post-pandemic.
Meanwhile, another Smithsonian venue just blocks away soared to the top of the rankings.
The National Portrait Gallery was named the world’s best museum in the same study, earning a satisfaction score of 76.9 out of 100, with visitors praising its vibrant collection and calm, welcoming environment.
The study found that globally, museum-goers are becoming more critical, with negative reviews nearly doubling over the past decade.
In 2014, only 5% of museum reviews were negative; by 2024, nearly 10% expressed dissatisfaction, even as more than 197 million people visited the top 100 museums last year, according to The Art Newspaper.
The Air and Space Museum isn’t alone in underwhelming its visitors: London’s Science Museum and New York’s American Museum of Natural History also ranked among the world’s most disappointing, dragged down by complaints of overcrowding, noise and dated exhibits.
Despite the gripes, museums continue to be beloved travel destinations, with more than half of visitors reporting positive experiences. The study suggests institutions that manage crowd flow, maintain engaging displays and deliver a welcoming atmosphere still earn high marks — and loyal visitors.
The Washington Times has reached out to the Smithsonian Institution for comment.
