Museum of Flight facts for kids
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The museum's Great Gallery in 2005
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| Former name | Pacific Museum of Flight |
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| Established | 1965 |
| Location | King County International Airport (Boeing Field) 9404 E. Marginal Way Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Visitors | 465,504 (2024) |
The Museum of Flight is an amazing air and space museum. It is located near Seattle, Washington, in the United States. This museum is a special place where you can explore the history of flight. It opened in 1965 and is one of the biggest museums of its kind.
The museum welcomes many visitors each year. In 2024, over 465,000 people explored its exhibits. It also helps more than 140,000 students learn about aviation and space. They offer fun programs like the Challenger Learning Center and summer camps. These programs reach kids all over Washington and Oregon.
Exploring the Museum's Past
How the Museum Began
The Museum of Flight started in 1965. It began with a group called the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation. Their first big project was to find and fix up a 1929 Boeing 80A-1 airplane. This plane was found far away in Anchorage, Alaska. It took 16 years to restore it. Once finished, this amazing plane became a main display at the museum.
In 1968, the name "Museum of Flight" was first used. The museum rented a space at the Seattle Center. Soon, people started planning for a much bigger and permanent home for the museum.
The Historic Red Barn
In 1975, the museum bought a very special building for just one dollar. This was the William E. Boeing Red Barn. It was the first factory for the Boeing company, built in 1909. The Red Barn was moved by boat to its current spot next to Boeing Field. After being carefully restored, it opened to visitors in 1983. It shows how airplanes were made long ago.
The Great Gallery Takes Flight
A big fundraising effort began in 1983. This was to build the T.A. Wilson Great Gallery. In 1987, Vice President George Bush helped open this huge new building. Four Mercury astronauts joined him. The Great Gallery has a special glass roof. It holds more than 20 airplanes, including a large Douglas DC-3, hanging in the air.
Learning About Space
In 1992, the museum added a Challenger Learning Center. This is a fun, interactive exhibit. Students can pretend to be on a Space Shuttle mission. It has a mock-up NASA mission control room. You can do experiments related to space travel there.
More Exhibits and Famous Planes
The museum continued to grow. In 1994, it added the Wings Cafe and a large meeting room. A very famous plane, the Lockheed M-21, was also put on display. This unique aircraft was designed to carry special reconnaissance drones.
In 1996, the first jet-powered Air Force One plane arrived. This was a Boeing VC-137B. It had been used by presidents from 1959 to 1962. After its service, it came to the museum. You can now walk through this historic plane in the Aviation Pavilion.
In 1997, an interactive Air Traffic Control tower exhibit opened. It gives you a look at what it's like to guide planes. The tower overlooks the busy runways of Boeing Field.
Honoring Courage in the Skies
A major new section, the J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, opened in 2004. It is named after a World War II veteran. This wing has two floors of exhibits. It displays more than 25 airplanes from World War I and World War II. It also features many model aircraft from these wars.
Journey to Space
In 2010, the museum started building a new gallery. This was for a Space Shuttle it hoped to get from NASA. This new area is called the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery. It opened to the public in November 2012. It tells stories of space travel.
The museum received the Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT). This is a life-sized model of a Space Shuttle. Astronauts used it for training. You can even take special guided tours inside this trainer. It started arriving in pieces in 2012. NASA's Super Guppy plane helped deliver parts like the cockpit.
In 2019, the museum celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. It hosted an exhibit with the actual Apollo command module Columbia. This was the spacecraft used for the first Moon landing.
Amazing Aircraft Collection
The Museum of Flight has over 150 aircraft. These planes are part of its incredible collection. Here are a few examples:
- Lamson L-106 Alcor: This was the world's first pressurized glider.
Exploring Museum Exhibits
The Personal Courage Wing
The Personal Courage Wing is a special part of the museum. It displays 28 aircraft from World War I and World War II. These planes come from many different countries. It helps visitors understand the bravery of pilots from those times.
The Historic Red Barn
The "Red Barn" is another important exhibit. It is a historic building. This was the very first factory for the Boeing company, built in 1909. Inside, you can see how early wooden airplanes were built. It shows the history of aviation up to 1958.
Space: Exploring the New Frontier
In June 2007, the museum opened a new space exhibit. It is called "Space: Exploring the New Frontier". This exhibit shows how space travel has changed over time. It covers everything from early rockets to future commercial spaceflights.
Restoration Work
The museum has a special workshop at Paine Field. Here, experts work to restore old aircraft. They have many projects, like a de Havilland Comet 4 jet airliner. They also work on a Boeing 2707 mockup.
Learning and Research
The Museum of Flight has a library and archives. The Harl V. Brackin Library opened in 1985. It has many books about aerospace and aviation. The archives also hold millions of photos and historical documents. These resources help people research aviation history.
Aviation High School and Pavilion
In September 2013, Raisbeck Aviation High School opened next to the museum. This school focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It works closely with the museum and Boeing. The school also helps with the museum's summer programs.
The Aviation Pavilion opened in June 2016. It is a huge covered area. It allows large aircraft, like the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress, to be displayed all year. This pavilion doubled the museum's exhibit space. It holds 18 of the museum's most famous planes.
In May 2019, the museum opened the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Park. This park features a fully restored B-52G Stratofortress bomber. The park is free to visit.
See also
- List of aerospace museums
