List of United States Air Force museums facts for kids

The United States Air Force has many awesome museums and heritage centers! These places are super cool because they let you explore the history of flight and space. You can see real airplanes, rockets, and learn about the brave people who served in the Air Force. It's like a time machine for aviation, showing how flight has changed over time.

Discover Amazing Air Force Museums!

The Air Force has many museums open right now where you can learn about aviation history. Each museum often focuses on different parts of the Air Force's story.

• National Museum of the United States Air Force – Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This is the biggest and oldest military aviation museum in the world! You can see everything from early flight machines to modern stealth jets and even space shuttles.
• Air Force Armament Museum – Found at Eglin AFB in Florida. This museum shows off weapons and bombs used by the Air Force. You can see missiles, rockets, and learn about how they work.
• Air Force Flight Test Center Museum – Near Edwards AFB in California. This museum is all about testing new aircraft. You can see experimental planes and learn about the brave test pilots who flew them.
• Air Mobility Command Museum – At Dover AFB in Delaware. This museum focuses on planes that transport people and cargo. You can explore huge transport aircraft and learn about airlifts.
• Barksdale Global Power Museum – Near Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. This museum highlights the Air Force's powerful bombers and missiles. It's a great place to learn about strategic air power.
• Enlisted Heritage Research Institute – Located at Maxwell AFB in Alabama. This institute shares the history of enlisted Air Force members. It shows their important contributions to the Air Force.
• Hill Aerospace Museum – Northwest of Hill AFB in Utah. This museum has a large collection of aircraft and missiles. You can see many different types of planes used throughout history.
• Malmstrom Museum – At Malmstrom AFB in Montana. This museum focuses on the base's history and its role in national defense.
• McChord Air Museum – At McChord AFB in Washington. This museum displays aircraft and artifacts related to air transport and rescue missions.
• Museum of Aviation – Near Robins AFB in Georgia. This museum has a wide variety of aircraft. It also teaches about the history of aviation and space.
• Peterson Air and Space Museum – At Peterson AFB in Colorado. This museum explores the history of air and space defense. You can see rockets and learn about space operations.
• Sheppard AFB Heritage Center – At Sheppard AFB in Texas. This center preserves the history of training in the Air Force. It shows how airmen learn their skills.
• South Dakota Air and Space Museum – In Box Elder, South Dakota, outside Ellsworth AFB. This museum features aircraft and exhibits about the Air Force's role in the Cold War.
• Thunderbirds Museum – At Nellis AFB in Nevada. This museum celebrates the famous Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. You can learn about their amazing aerial stunts.
• Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum – Near Travis AFB in California. This museum showcases transport and refueling aircraft. It highlights the base's role in global air mobility.
• USAF Airman Heritage Museum – At Lackland AFB in Texas. This museum tells the story of the Air Force's enlisted airmen. It covers their training and daily lives.
• Warren ICBM and Heritage Museum – Near F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming. This museum focuses on missile history and the base's heritage.

Museums That Have Changed

Some museums that were once part of the Air Force system have changed over time.

Museums That Are Now Private

These museums used to be part of the Air Force's official museum system. Now, they are run by private groups or organizations. They still share amazing aviation history with the public!

• Aerospace Museum of California
• Castle Air Museum
• Grissom Air Museum
• March Field Air Museum
• Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
• Selfridge Military Air Museum
• Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

From Air Force to Space Force

One museum that was part of the Air Force system changed when the Space Force became its own branch of the military.

• Air Force Space and Missile Museum – This museum was renamed and now belongs to the Space Force. It focuses on rockets, missiles, and space exploration.

See also

• National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
• Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum
• Pima Air & Space Museum