Originally published April 3, 2014 at 4:20 PM | Page modified April 4, 2014 at 6:42 AM

WASHINGTON Courtesy of Boeing, some key artifacts of aviation and space history will be getting an updated display for the 21st century, with the Apollo moon landing as the centerpiece.

For the first time since its 1976 opening, the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum plans to overhaul its central exhibition showing the milestones of flight. The extensive renovation announced Thursday will be carried out over the next two years with portions of the exhibit closing temporarily over time, said Museum Director J.R. Jack Dailey.

The project will be paid for by the largest corporate donation in the Smithsonians history. On Thursday, Boeing announced a $30 million gift to the museum for its exhibits and education programs. The central gallery will be renamed the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall. Boeing has donated nearly $60 million to the museum throughout its history, the company said.

Charles Lindberghs Spirit of St. Louis aircraft from the first trans-Atlantic flight, John Glenns Mercury capsule from his first Earth orbit and an Apollo Lunar Module recalling Americas first moon landing will be among the key pieces to be featured. Such artifacts have made the Air and Space Museum the nations most-visited museum, drawing 7 million to 8 million visitors each year.

The exhibition overhaul also marks the start of a renovation of the entire building through 2020, which will require federal funding. Plans call for adding an observatory on the roof.

The current Milestones of Flight gallery includes a somewhat random mix of technical marvels, including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules spread across the floor, the first plane to break the sound barrier and other aircraft hanging above. The exhibit descriptions have not been notably updated since President Ford opened the museum in 1976, said chief curator Peter Jakab.

For the first time, the museum will add science fiction to the Milestones of Flight exhibit with a model of starship Enterprise from Star Trek. In the 1970s, a Star Trek actress made TV ads to help NASA recruit a diverse corps of new astronauts, connecting fiction with reality in the Space Age.

A new-media wall, digital screens and content for mobile devices will add more layers to the visitor experience, Dailey said. Were trying to figure out what the museum needs to do to stay in touch, Dailey said. We want to inspire people of all ages to want to know more and to do more.

Boeings $30 million gift is not a record for a museum. In 2011, billionaire Jorge Prez donated $40 million to the Miami Art Museum, which renamed itself after him.

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Smithsonians Air and Space to get facelift with $30M from Boeing