In April of 2001, the Challenger Space Center signed an historic affiliation agreement with the Smithsonian Institution. While we receive no funding from the Smithsonian, the Challenger Space Center is the first Smithsonian affiliates in metropolitan Phoenix.

This unique affiliation allows children, families, seniors and others access to the treasures and antiquities of the Smithsonian by giving us the ability to bring these national quality museum exhibits to people of all ages who may never have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. These exhibits, many of which come with educational programs, enrich the arts and sciences curriculum studies of not only younger students, but also those at the university level.

The Smithsonian is one of the world’s largest museum systems. Its collections include more than 141 million objects, works of art and specimens. The Smithsonian umbrella includes 16 museums and galleries, along with the National Zoo. Only two of its museums, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center, are located outside of Washington, D.C. Both of these institutions are located in New York City.

It is estimated that only 2 percent of the Smithsonian’s vast collection is ever on display. As a result, in 1997, the Affiliates Program was established to make it possible for other museums to borrow from the collections so that the Institution’s vast repository of treasures would be available to a much wider audience than ever before. There are less than 100 other affiliates in the United States.