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Know Ohio: National Museum of the United States Air Force

LOCATED AT THE WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND OLDEST MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM.

OPENING TO THE PUBLIC IN 1923, THE MUSEUM ORIGINATED IN AN AIRCRAFT HANGAR AT MCCOOK FIELD NEAR DOWNTOWN DAYTON.

THE MUSEUM MOVED TO ITS PERMANENT HOME, A 400 ACRE LOT OF LAND AT WRIGHT FIELD, IN 1971. SINCE THEN, THE COLLECTION HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 360 AEROSPACE VEHICLES AND MISSILES, PLUS THOUSANDS OF AVIATION ARTIFACTS.

THE MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS AND DISPLAYS GALLERIES IN AVIATION HISTORY, WITH THEIR COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS AND AIRCRAFT.

IN THE EARLY YEARS GALLERY, THE MUSEUM CHRONICLES PIONEERS OF FLIGHT, INCLUDING THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

ANOTHER PART OF THE MUSEUM, THE PRESIDENTIAL GALLERY, FEATURES SEVERAL AIRCRAFTS USED BY FORMER PRESIDENTS KENNEDY, ROOSEVELT AND EISENHOWER AMONG OTHERS.

IN ADDITION TO THE GALLERIES, THE MUSEUM DEDICATES EXHIBITS TO AIR FORCE CLOTHING AND UNIFORMS, INCLUDING LEATHER FLYING JACKETS WHICH BELONGED TO WELL KNOWN FIGURES IN AIR FORCE HISTORY.

THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM ATTRACTS OVER A MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR MAKING IT ONE OF OHIO'S MOST VISITED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

AND NOW, YOU CAN VISIT THE MUSEUM FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME WITH AN INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL TOUR WHICH GIVES 360 DEGREE LOOKS AT THE VARIOUS GALLERIES.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE MUSEUM WITH YOUR SCHOOL OR MAYBE ON VACATION? DID YOU DO THE VIRTUAL TOUR? WE WANT TO KNOW - WHAT DID YOU FIND TO BE THE MOST INTERESTING?

stephanie.jarvis@ideastream.org | 216-916-6340