Museum of Aerospace Medicine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hangar 9
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Brooks Air Force Base Inner Circle Rd., San Antonio, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1918 |
| Built by | Thomas & Harmon Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000895 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1970 |
The Edward H. White II Museum of Aerospace Medicine was once a special museum of the United States Air Force. It was located inside a historic building called Hangar 9 at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This museum focused on the history of flight and space medicine.
Brooks Air Force Base closed down in 2011. Because of this, the museum also closed its doors at the same time. Today, Hangar 9 is part of a new area called Brooks City-Base. This area is being developed where the old air base used to be. There are plans to protect and preserve the historic buildings, like Hangar 9.
Contents
What is Hangar 9?
Hangar 9 is a very old building that was built in 1918. It was constructed by a company called Thomas & Harmon Co. A hangar is a large building where aircraft are stored and repaired. This particular hangar is special because of its long history with aviation and space exploration.
A Look Back: Hangar 9's History
Hangar 9 has a rich history, especially in the world of flight and medicine.
Why was Hangar 9 Restored?
A group called the Bexar County Historical Survey Committee helped to restore Hangar 9. They wanted to save this important building from the old Army Air Corps Brooks Field. Their goal was to turn the restored Hangar into an aviation museum. This museum would show the early days of Brooks Field. It would also display many old photos and pieces of equipment related to flying and aerospace medicine.
Who was Edward H. White II?
The museum was named after Ed White. He was born in San Antonio, Texas. Ed White was a famous astronaut. He made history as the first American to "walk" in space. Naming the museum after him honored his amazing achievements.
Hangar 9's Special Status
Hangar 9 is not just any old building; it has several important historical titles.
Why is Hangar 9 a National Historic Landmark?
In 1970, Brooks Field Hangar 9 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Then, in 1976, it became a National Historic Landmark. This is an even higher honor, given to places that are especially important to the history of the entire country.
Other Historic Recognitions for Hangar 9
The State of Texas has also recognized Hangar 9 as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site for the state. The City of San Antonio also calls it a City of San Antonio Historic Landmark. All these titles show how special and valuable Hangar 9 is to history.
