Experience The Museum of Flight

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The Museum of Flight should be on your travel list if you’re visiting the Seattle area. The largest aerospace museum in the world, this Seattle museum is home to more than 175 aircraft and tens of thousands of flight-related artifacts including rare photographs, experiences, and so much more.

It’s an amazing place for those who are interested in flight, science, or history, and its large number of things to see makes it a major draw for people from around the world. 

History of The Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight began as the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation, established in 1964 by a small group of aviation enthusiasts who recognized that important, historical aviation artifacts were being quickly destroyed.  Their mission became those artifacts. 

 

In 1965, the first official Museum of Flight exhibits were put on display in a 10,000-square-foot area at the Seattle Center, home to the 1962 World’s Fair. 

As the collection grew, space became more limited, and in 1975, the Port of Seattle leased the land, home to the Boeing Red Barn, to the Museum for 99 years. The Red Barn was eventually fully restored in 1983 and became the home of The Museum of Flight.

 A Few of My Favorite Exibits

Pre-World War 1 Monoplane Replica

Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, the same type of plane Amelia Earhart was flying on her final, ill-fated flight in 1937

Grumman F-14A Tomcat, same type of plane flown by Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick, in the movie Top Gun

P-12 biplane, primary fighter plane in early 1930s

 

The statue at the Museum of Flight is called “Team Effort”.  As having a son, I can imagine this being any little boy with a model plane

 

 

Exhibits and More

Throughout the years, this Seattle aerospace museum has been committed to the ongoing showcasing of all things flight, along with educating the public about the history of flight.  Through its wide variety of exhibits, the Museum tells the story of the past, present, and future of flight, offering informative, entertaining looks into all aspects of aviation. 

Of course, so much started with the Wright Brothers.

The exhibits found at The Museum of Flight explore every part of aviation. From World War II era flight to the future of humankind outside of Earth’s orbit, cockpit museums, a collection of WW II aircraft models, and so much more, The Museum tells the entire story of flight in an interesting and entertaining way. 

In addition to its interactive exhibits, The Museum of Flight is home to more than 175 aircraft of all kinds, chronicling the history of flight and how it’s changed over the decades.

This state-of-the-art motion ride gives the visuals and sounds of a pilot in air combat.  Having issues with motion sickness, I stay away from these rides, but my guys said it was fantastic.

Many galleries showcase everything from the history of The Red Barn, the birthplace of Boeing, to the Aviation Pavilion and the Space Gallery, where visitors can tour the Space Shuttle Trainer and experience multi-sensory exhibits. 

 

There’s even a Virtual Reality Experience in Space.

The Air Force One, which was used by President Johnson.

The Concorde 

 

Education

The famous Seattle aerospace museum is also home to a variety of educational programs for children and resources for educators.  The Museum of Flight offers programs for kids like Individual Learning and on-site programs for school groups.

Visit The Museum of Flight

It offers exhibits, galleries, and opportunities.  The Museum of Flight is devoted to preserving the past, present, and future of flight and educating future generations about all aspects of winged travel.  When in Seattle, don’t miss having this museum on your travel list.  It will spark the imagination of the young and old. 

Stop by the gift shop and pick up the space ice cream.

Whille in Seattle

Check out purchasing a CityPASS for discounts on a lot of the popular attractions

SEATTLE CITYPASS

A highlight was CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS

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