Candler Field Museum facts for kids
The Candler Field Museum was a special place that aimed to bring back the look and feel of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from the 1920s and 1930s. It was located in Williamson, Georgia, at Peach State Airport. The museum started in March 2005. It had one main building, several old airplanes and vehicles, and a large collection of items from that time period. The museum closed its doors in February 2021.
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History of the Candler Field Museum
In 2005, a retired pilot named Ronald Alexander bought Peach State Airport. In March 2004, he started a non-profit group called Candler Field Museum, Inc. The goal of this group was to rebuild parts of the old Atlanta airport.
Building the Museum
In September 2008, the first building was finished. This building was like an old American Airways hangar. By October 2014, the museum was open for people to visit. Sadly, the museum closed permanently in February 2021.
What You Could See at the Museum
The museum was home to many cool old aircraft. These included a 1917 Curtiss JN-4 and a 1928 Curtiss Robin. There was also a 1930 6L Stearman and a 1940 Douglas DC-3A. Other planes included a 1941 PT-17 Stearman and a Waco YMF-5.
Cool Airplanes and Vehicles
Besides airplanes, the museum also had old cars and trucks. You could see Ford Model A cars and Model T cars. There was even a 1909 Sear's car. All the machines at the museum were kept in working condition. The owner believed that anything that didn't run should be hung from the ceiling!
Fun Activities and Resources
The museum's Waco biplane offered special rides for a fee. This let visitors experience flying in an old-fashioned plane. For museum members, there was also a library. It was full of books, magazines, and photos about aviation.
Museum Connections
The Candler Field Museum worked with or supported other groups. These included:
- Flabob Airport in Riverside, California
- A project to restore a Curtiss Jenny JN-4 plane in Peachtree City, Georgia
- A program to help young people learn about aviation at Candler Field
- The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's work to fix their reproduction Nieuport 11 World War I French fighter plane after it crashed.
