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Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium facts for kids
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Type | Aviation museum |
The Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) is a cool place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, where you can learn all about airplanes and space! It's right next to the Tulsa International Airport. The museum has a huge space, about 19,000 square feet, filled with amazing historical displays, fun hands-on activities, and old airplanes. In 2006, they even added a special planetarium with a giant dome screen. It's also a great spot for school trips, summer camps, and Scout groups to learn more about flight.
Contents
History of the Museum
The museum first opened in May 1998. It was in an old airplane hangar from the 1940s at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. By 2005, the museum moved to its current home, the Sherman and Ellie Smith Hangar One building. This new place had much more space for all the exhibits. In May 2006, the museum opened its awesome planetarium.
Exploring the Exhibits
Inside Hangar One, you can explore the history of aviation in Tulsa in order. The "Early Birds" exhibit shows how flying began in Tulsa. It highlights Duncan A. McIntyre, an important aviation pioneer from Tulsa.
Airport Terminal Replica
The next part of the museum features a smaller copy of Tulsa's first art deco airport terminal. This original building was designed by Leon B. Senter. You can see real parts from the old terminal, like its cast iron door frames, cornerstone, and fancy decorations. There are also old documents and photos to look at.
Pearl Harbor Survivors' Stories
There's a special exhibit about the Pearl Harbor attacks. You can use an interactive touch-screen to hear Oklahoma survivors share their personal stories from that important day.
Tulsa's Role in World War II
The World War II exhibit shows how Tulsa helped during the war. You can learn about the Spartan Aircraft Company, the Spartan College of Aviation and Technology, and the Douglas Bomber Plant. These places made important contributions to the war effort.
Commercial Aviation History
A commercial aviation exhibit displays old uniforms, documents, and photos from airlines like American Airlines and Trans World Airlines. American Airlines gets extra attention because Tulsa is home to the world's largest private aircraft maintenance base, run by American.
Space Exploration in Tulsa
The space exhibit tells you about Tulsa's part in space programs, both with astronauts and without. It starts with the first "Peaceful Uses of Space Conference" held in Tulsa on May 26, 1961. Oklahoma astronauts are honored here. You can even try operating a model of the Space Shuttle's robotic arm!
Historic Aircraft Collection
In Hangar One, you'll find several amazing historic airplanes. Some special ones include a very rare Spartan C-2 aircraft, one of only two Rockwell Ranger 2000's still around, a Spartan NP-1, and an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet.
The Spartan Boys Exhibit
There's a small exhibit that shares a unique story. In 1949, 42 technical staff members from the new Israeli Air Force came to the Spartan College of Aviation and Technology in Tulsa. They trained there for nine months. Families from the Tulsa Jewish community "adopted" them while they were there. After finishing their training, they went back to Israel as certified aircraft mechanics.
The museum's collections mostly focus on Tulsa's rich history in aviation.
The James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium
The James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium opened at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum in May 2006. This planetarium uses amazing 360-degree high-definition technology on a huge 50-foot wide dome. You can watch full-dome digital shows and traditional star shows. The planetarium also hosts special events for the community.
See also
- List of planetariums