Image: Interiors of 17 museums have been mapped

A collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Google has now allowed visitors to virtually explore indoor spaces at its 17 US museums and the National Zoological Park.

Visitors who use Google Maps for Android are now able to access more than 2.7 million sq ft (250,838sq m) of interiors, which aims to allow for easier exploration of the various sites.

The attractions to have been mapped so far are the National Museum of American History; National Museum of Natural History; National Postal Museum and Renwick Gallery - all in Washington DC.

Chantilly's National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center in New York also feature.

Smithsonian head of mobile strategy and initiatives Nancy Proctor said: "Indoor Google Maps helps us achieve our goal of putting the Smithsonian in visitors' hands, both literally and figuratively."

• In addition to the 17 museums and National Zoological Park, Google has also worked with other US attractions - adding them its collection of more than 10,000 indoor maps.

San Francisco's de Young Museum; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Cincinnati Museum Center; and the Indianapolis Museum of Art also now feature on Google Maps for Android.

A Google spokesperson said: "Along with the Google Art Project, indoor mapping is one more way we're working with museums to bring greater access to revered cultural and educational institutions around the world."

Details: www.si.edu (Smithsonian Institution)

Details: www.blogspot.co.uk (Google)

Image: Postdlf