Museum of Flying facts for kids
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| Former name | Douglas Museum and Library |
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| Established | November 1974 |
| Location | Santa Monica, California |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Key holdings | Aircraft
Artifacts
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| Founder | Donald Douglas, Jr. |
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The Museum of Flying is a cool place in Santa Monica, California, where you can learn all about airplanes and space travel. It's a special kind of museum called an non-profit aerospace museum. This means it's run by a group that doesn't aim to make money, but rather to teach people.
The museum first opened its doors in 1974. It closed for a while in 2002 but then reopened in a brand new building in 2012. The main goal of the museum is to show the amazing story of aviation, especially focusing on the planes and people from Southern California, like Donald Douglas and his famous Douglas Aircraft Company.
Contents
How the Museum Started and Grew
The Museum of Flying began as the Douglas Museum and Library in 1974. It was first located on the south side of the Santa Monica Airport. Later, in April 1989, it moved to the north side of the airport and changed its name to the Museum of Flying.
Over time, the museum collected more than 50 old airplanes. Many of these planes were built right there in Southern California. Some of them can even still fly today!
Amazing Aircraft and Artifacts
The museum has lots of cool items, displays, and aviation art that tell the story of how flying developed in Southern California. A very special plane at the museum was the Douglas World Cruiser called "New Orleans." This plane, along with its sister ship "Chicago," was part of the first flight to go all the way around the world in 1924! The "Chicago" is now at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.
Fun Events and Programs
For many years, the museum hosted exciting events. One memorable event was "A Walk on the Moon" in 1999. Seven NASA astronauts who had walked on the Moon were there!
One of the most popular programs was the "A's Award Flight Program" for kids. On certain days, children who earned an "A" grade in any school subject could get a free airplane ride! This was a great way to reward kids for working hard in school. The museum also had other learning programs for both kids and adults, like family workshops on weekends.
A New Chapter for the Museum
In July 2002, the museum had to close for a short time because of money problems. But the museum officials worked hard to find a new location. They signed an agreement with the City of Santa Monica for a spot at 3100 Airport Avenue.
The project to expand and remodel the new location cost almost $2 million. All the construction was finished in 2012, and the museum reopened its doors to visitors once again!
What You Can See and Do at the Museum
The Museum of Flying has a huge display area, almost 22,000 square feet (about 2,044 square meters)!
Exploring Aviation History
The museum has many displays and exhibits that explain the history of flight. They show how the aviation and aerospace industry grew in Southern California. There's a big focus on the Douglas Aircraft Company and the history of the Santa Monica Airport.
You can see about a dozen different aircraft. These planes show the journey of flight from the very beginning. There's even a replica of the Wright Flyer, which was the first successful airplane. You can also see a Lockheed Vega. Both of these planes were featured in the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and were given to the museum by 20th Century-Fox studios.
Cool Planes and Cockpits
At the front of the museum, you'll see impressive static models of the North American F-86 Sabre and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. A really cool part of the museum is the front section of a Boeing 727-200 airplane. This part was donated by Federal Express, who used it in their fleet for twenty years. You can even go inside it!
The museum also has a large collection of aviation art, rare items from famous pilots, and many old photos of historic aircraft and how they were made.
Special Areas and Simulators
Up on the mezzanine level, you can see a recreated office of Donald Wills Douglas, Sr., who founded the Douglas Aircraft Company. There's also a recreation of the Douglas Aircraft Company Executive Board room. The mezzanine also has the new Museum Theater and Screening Room.
For an exciting experience, the museum features a Max Flight FS 3000 simulator. This simulator can move 360 degrees and has surround sound and high-definition graphics. It's the only simulator of its kind in the Los Angeles area, giving you a super realistic flying experience!
See also
- List of aviation museums
