Official U.S. government information about the
Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics
Time and Navigation
The Untold Story of Getting from Here to There
If people want to know where they are, they need a reliable clock. It might seem surprising, but knowing the accurate time is essential for determining position.
The Smithsonian exhibition, Time and Navigation: The Untold Story of Getting from Here to There, explored how revolutions in timekeeping over three centuries have influenced how people find their way.
Among other things, the exhibit recounted the history of satellite navigation, including the invention of GPS and GPS applications.
The project was a unique collaboration between two of the Smithsonian's largest and most popular museums: the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing co-sponsored the exhibit along with several corporate contributors.
The physical exhibit closed when the entire National Air and Space Museum closed for renovations in 2018. However, the richly informative exhibit website remains online.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Washington, D.C.
Opened April 12, 2013
Closed in late 2018
