South Dakota Air and Space Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
South Dakota Air and Space Museum

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Established	1983
Location	Adjacent to Ellsworth Air Force Base, Box Elder, South Dakota, United States
Type	Aviation museum
Collection size	25+ aircraft
Founder	Gerald E. Teachout

The South Dakota Air and Space Museum is an exciting place to visit in Box Elder, South Dakota. It's located right next to the main entrance of Ellsworth Air Force Base. This museum is all about the amazing history of the United States Air Force, the Ellsworth base itself, and everything to do with planes and space in South Dakota.

A Look Back: How the Museum Started

The museum began thanks to a program from the United States Air Force in 1982. This program aimed to create museums at different air bases across the country. The Ellsworth Heritage Foundation was set up for this purpose.

Gerald E. Teachout helped start the museum in 1983. At first, they tried to raise money for a new building in 1985. But instead, the museum received four old hangars that used to hold F-89 planes. They also got a two-story building that was going to be torn down. These buildings were moved to the museum's current spot near the base's main gate in 1992.

Over the years, the museum has added many cool items to its collection. In 1989, they received a model of a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The next year, they fixed up a Boeing B-29 Superfortress plane. They also got a Boeing B-47 Stratojet from another air force base.

In 1994, a special Minuteman II missile silo trainer was added. This trainer was used to teach people about operating missiles. The museum received money in 1998 to make its displays even better. In 2001, a new entrance opened, featuring a Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber.

Later, in 2011, an AGM-28 Hound Dog missile was shown after being restored. A big project to improve the museum's outdoor areas finished in 2016. In 2017, the museum put a Titan I missile on display in its outdoor airpark. In 2019, the museum worked with the Commemorative Air Force to fly a B-25 plane across South Dakota. This flight honored two South Dakotans who took part in the famous Doolittle Raid during World War II. In 2022, a model of an AGM-158 missile was put on display.

What You Can See: Museum Exhibits

The museum has four indoor areas, called galleries. These galleries are named after famous aviation pioneers: Frank Hunter, Duke Corning, Clyde Ice, and Joe Foss.

The displays cover many interesting topics. You can learn about the history of aerospace technology and how planes have changed over time. There are exhibits about the World Wars and the Cold War. You can also discover more about aviation pioneers and the history of Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The museum also has special training tools. These include cockpits from F-106 and B-1B planes that you can see up close. There's also an F-16 simulator, which lets you feel like you're flying. Another exhibit is a Minuteman Crew Mission Procedures Trainer, which taught missile crews their jobs.

Other exhibits include the history of the Stratobowl Balloon Launches from the 1930s. You can also learn about the 44th Bombardment Group/44th Strategic Missile Wing. The museum is also home to the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, which honors important people in South Dakota's aviation history.

Amazing Aircraft and Missiles on Display

The museum has a large collection of real aircraft and missiles. Many of these are on display for visitors to see.

Aircraft You Can Explore

North American VB-25J Mitchell

Missiles on Show

More to Explore

• List of aerospace museums
• List of museums in South Dakota
• North American aviation halls of fame