The Museum of Flight is home to 150 unique aircraft representing the amazing history of air and space voyages. Located just outside of the King County International Airport, the museum remains one of the most interesting venues to visit when traveling to Seattle.
History
The origin of the Museum of Flight can be traced to the founding of the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation, an organization that started in 1965 to oversee a unique project. The foundation worked to restore a recently discovered 1929 Boeing 80A-1, which was recovered from an Alaska landfill. The restoration took over 16 years and, during this time, a great deal of work was done to help establish a venue in which it could be displayed. Eventually, the aircraft would be fully restored and became a centerpiece of the privately owned, nonprofit museum. The museum would officially open its doors in 1965 and it was immediately given accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.
The museum has grown exponentially over the years. 400,000 visitors explore the museum annually and 140,000 students take part in aviation learning programs on its premises.
Collection of Aircraft
The 150 aircrafts on display in the museum reflect the amazing history of air and space engineering and design. Among the main attractions on display is the City of Everett, which was the first Boeing 747 to ever take flight. The VC-137B SAM 970, the retired first presidential jet that served as part of the presidential fleet from 1959 to 1996. The unique the Gossamer Albatross II, a craft that is human-powered, is another one of the interesting exhibits.
The spacecraft collection at the museum is equally captivating. Mock ups of the Apollo 17, the North American Aviation Apollo Command Module 007A, the Boeing Lunar Roving Vehicle Engineering, and the Soyuz TMA-14 Descent Module are all on display.
Library
A comprehensive library that is geared to cover the history of air and space travel has been compiled at the museum. There are well over 65,000 books covering all manner of aerospace subjects. The library is open to the public and provides a wealth of research material for those wishing to learn about the history of aviation. The Dalhberg collection is also part of the museum and it covers the lengthy history of military aviation.
Events
There are numerous events that are held all through the year and these events celebrate the past, present, and future of aviation. Recent events have featured celebratory honoring displays for Amelia Earhart, Astronomy Day, and lectures featuring stories from legendary excursions in aviation history. Such events are definitely enlightening and educational and visitors frequently enjoy them.
Visitor Information
An adult ticket is $18. Children’s tickets are $10 and seniors are $15. The only two days out of the year the museum is closed is Christmas and Thanksgiving. The Museum of Flight is located 9404 E. Marginal Way in Seattle, WA. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM every day. The main phone number of the museum is 206-764-5720.
