Every time I mention this place and list all the stuff they have, people looked stunned and say WHERE is this place? Hutchison, Kansas seems like an odd place for a world class space museum but after my third visit there last weekend, I can say its awesome and it keeps getting better.
At one time they boasted the world's largest collection of soviet space hardware (on loan from H. Ross Perot). Its the only space artifact restoration facility in the world and is now associated with the Smithsonian. Many of the props for the movie Apollo 13 were built there.
Last weekend I saw:
Mercury capsule (assumed to be a mock-up) on a real Redstone rocket, complete with launch ring (outside)
Gemini capsule (assumed to be a mock-up) on Titan 2 (outside)
Saturn engine/gazebo (outside)
SR-71 Blackbird (main lobby)
T-38 trainer (main lobby)
Half of a full sized shuttle mock-up (main lobby)
Apollo 13 plus a nice display of extra Apollo equipment and suits
Full size LM mockup used in CBS moon broadcast coverage
Full size Apollo/Soyez mock-up
Skeleton of a lunar module prototype ascent stage with skin off of it
The top of the tower structure where crew boarded the Apollo capsule
Lunar rover
Gemini 6 and 10 in for restoration. One replaced their usual unflown example on the floor and the other is disassembled in the restoration facility
Unflown Mercury capsule
A shredded Mercury capsule recovered from a aborted unmanned flight
A flown Soviet spacecraft
Rocket sled
Many spacesuits from all eras
X-15 flight suit
Full sized X-1 Mock up from the movie The Right Stuff (Yeager's jacket from the flight had been there but was recalled for the new Smithsonian wing)
X-1 rocket engine
V-1 and V-2
ME-163 rocket motor
Large display of cameras used in space flight
Van Braun's slide rule
Restoration facility with viewing windows
IMAX theater and Planetarium (included with admission)
Liberty Bell 7 was restored there and is based there, but was out on the road (again, dammit), comemerating the 100 years of flight. The guy who restored it (and Apollo 13) and who I saw often on their web cam passed away shortly after it was done and one corner in the museum is dedicated to him.
Their website does a poor job of showing what all they have.
Tom