Colorado Springs Aircraft Museum - A wide range of aircraft that have been fully restored to flying condition calls the National Museum of World War II Aviation home. As the museum hangars have limited space, a portion of the collection is in maintenance, put on tour, or rotated throughout the year.
The museum attracts more than 20,000 civilian and military visitors each year from all over the world. The buildings that make up the museum are listed as part of the National Register of Historic Places, creating a valuable monument to state history in an active duty USAF base.
Colorado Springs Aircraft Museum
Colorado's oldest aviation museum, the Peterson Air and Space Museum is housed at Peterson Air Force Base, itself on the southeastern outskirts of Colorado Springs. The base was named in honor of Edward J. Peterson (1st Lieutenant, USAAC), who served as a pilot during World War II.
Of these exhibits, the EC-121 Warning Star is the only one open for tours. Additional exhibits can be seen in one of the two hangars in the courtyard, where visitors can observe a P-47N Thunderbolt, displays related to space programs and other interesting space and aviation artifacts.
Visitors can also interact with a Peacekeeper missile launch training simulator and try out interactive kiosks that explore the space and missile warning missions carried out by the Air Force Space Command. Non-military ID card holders and groups should contact the museum a day in advance of their visit to request a pass and receive detailed instructions.
Special Saturday tours can be arranged for groups of more than 20, requiring two weeks advance notice. It was founded in 2012 and is the only museum in the world to focus specifically on the role of airplanes and flying in World War II.
The Kaija Raven Shook Aeronautical Pavilion is one of the new facilities at the museum, with 40,000 square feet of displays covering more than a dozen operational World War II airplanes. The facility is designed to cater to programs and special events and can seat as many as 800 guests.
The National Museum of World War II Aviation is a must-visit attraction for aircraft and history lovers. Housed in a 109,000 square foot facility on a 20-acre campus near the Colorado Springs Airport, it includes galleries of exhibits, workshops, and a world-class, top-of-the-line facility for restoring World War II aircraft.
The National Museum of World War II Aviation displays many types of aircraft as part of their exhibitions, including pre-World War II and post-World War II aircraft, liaison aircraft, trainer aircraft, ambulance aircraft, and amphibious aircraft.
Naturally, the cargo aircraft, attack and bomber aircraft, and the fighter and pursuit aircraft are not left out of the equation. Visitors to the Peterson Air and Space Museum can choose to explore the exhibits on their own or to request a tour guide, who will provide additional information about the exhibits and a more historically enriching experience.
Some of the tour guides are military veterans with experience in handling the displayed aircraft. The museum opens Tuesdays through Fridays from 10am to 4pm. Admission to the museum is free of charge, however visitors should be careful to comply with access controls due to security concerns.
The Peterson Air and Space Museum has four original airfield structures, originally built between 1928 and 1941. Three of these buildings are used as part of the museum, including a Medal of Honor memorial park and an airpark.
The museum preserves and shares the rich aviation and space history of Colorado Springs and Peterson Air Force Base. Admission to the museum is moderately priced, with discounts for seniors, active and retired military, and prepaid entry.
World War II veterans and children under 4 can enter for free. The National Museum of World War II Aviation is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. Guests visiting the museum enter via the terminal building that originally housed the Colorado Springs Airport, built in 1941. A few exhibits covering the base's usage as a training facility during World War II are located in this building, as well as the museum store and screening
room. Upon exiting the main entrance building, visitors will see the museum's aircraft display at the Air Park. The museum also has an extensive collection of more than 3,000 artifacts and historical documents recording one of the most important time periods in American history.
Visitors can also view fully operational, completely restored vehicles used by American and allied forces during the war. Visitors can also buy merchandise at the museum gift store.
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