Tours of the James S. McDonnell Prologue Room
Summer Tours
Available only during the summer months
The Prologue Room is only open to the public during the summer months of June, July and August each year.
The exhibit is arranged for self-guided tours. Visitors may view the room on their own at their own pace.
Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays during the summer months. The exhibit is closed weekends and July 4.
Admission is free, and photographs are permitted.
Call 314-232-6896 or contact us on-line to make arrangements to visit the Prologue Room.
Summer Guided Tours
Guided tours of the Prologue Room are offered to organized groups, and are available June, July and August each year. Tours take about one hour and can be customized for adults or children.
The children's tour is geared toward 6-12 year olds. Children will watch a brief video that explains what makes an airplane fly, and then they will be lead through the exhibit where a guide will further explain the elements of flight both in the air and in outer space.
Tours are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays during the summer months. The exhibit is closed weekends and July 4.
Admission is free, and photographs are permitted.
Reservations are required. Groups should call (314-232-6896) or contact us on-line at least two weeks in advance.
Winter Student Tours - "The Mystery of Flight"
Available only during the school year each Friday (September through May)
The Mystery of Flight is an educational program designed for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders. The attention-grabbing 90-minute, multi-media presentation includes:
- An action-packed video that explains the basic principles of flight in a fun and easy-to-understand manner.
- A guided tour through the Prologue Room where the lessons of flight come to life. Students will:
- Learn how early planes looked and flew.
- Find out why airplanes built for different jobs have different shapes.
- Learn why airplanes have curved wings.
- Understand the job of the tail, the flaps and the rudder.
- Discover the difference between flying in air and in outer space.
In addition, students will receive exciting airplane pictures with interesting facts on the back, and a comic book with fun quizzes and puzzles.
Admission is free, and photographs are permitted. To promote interaction and ensure educational effectiveness, groups are limited to a maximum of 30 students.
Reservations are required. Call 314-232-6896 to make arrangements to visit the Prologue Room.