Last updated: 9/13/2012
Seattle, Washington
Address
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA 98108
phone: 206-764-5720
web: www.museumofflight.org
contact form: Museum of Flight

Hours

First Thursday of each month: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (5 p.m.-9 p.m. Free.)
Daily
10 AM - 5 PM
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Staff

Douglas King
phone:
e-mail:
Description

The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually. The Museum’s collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the Red Barn®—the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co. The Museum’s aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum’s on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Associations of Museums, and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Museum of Flight is located South of downtown Seattle, at the south end of Boeing Field / King County Airport; Exit 158 off Interstate 5. Free Parking adjacent to the Museum and Airpark

Mission

The Museum of Flight’s fundamental goals are: to acquire and preserve a wide array of materials and artifacts relating to aviation and space history and to provide a center for the scholarly research of these materials and artifacts. The Museum holds one of the largest and most comprehensive air and space collections in the United States, containing millions of rare photographs and negatives, a world-class library, tens of thousands of artifacts, and over 150 rare aircraft and space vehicles.

Artifact Collections
Aircraft in Our Collection The largest items in The Museum of Flight’s collection are historically significant aircraft. Many of the aircraft are on exhibit at the Museum’s main campus located at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA. Others reside in storage or are undergoing refurbishment at the Museum’s Restoration Center at Paine Field in Everett, WA.
The Museum of Flight’s collection includes a growing collection of spacecraft. Most are currently on exhibit in Space: Exploring the New Frontier at the Museum’s main campus located at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington.
Airline logos: The series of logos were scanned from a collection of 10”x10” vinyl decals that were found here in the Museum years ago. They appear to have come from the Boeing paint shop when they had no more use for them. They were routinely placed on nose of the first model of a particular aircraft to show who the launch customers were.
In addition to aircraft, The Museum of Flight collects and preserves all types of aviation and space artifacts. Some of these are on exhibit, while many more are stored, awaiting research, loan, or future display. All are carefully indexed, photographed, and stored.
Research Collections
Kenneth H. Dahlberg Center for Military Aviation History

Due to construction of the Museum’s new Space Gallery, the Museum’s Library & Archives Building (located across E. Marginal Way S. from the Museum’s main campus) may be closed intermittently to visitors. We will attempt to be open during our normal hours, 1 – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, however please call (206.764.5874) or e-mail (curator@museumofflight.org) in advance to confirm.

Kenneth H. Dahlberg, a World War II fighter ace and member of the American Fighter Aces Association, generously contributed financial assistance to the center’s development. The Center’s military library and archives holds many unique collections including materials from the American Fighter Aces Association, American Volunteer Group, the Champlin Fighter Museum as well as the expansive Norm Taylor and A.J. Bibbee photograph collections.

Library
Flight’s Harl V. Brackin Library

The Museum of Flight’s Harl V. Brackin Library is a popular and useful resource for researchers, aviation enthusiasts, students, model-makers, and authors. The Library contains thousands of books, magazines, and manuals, making it one of the most complete and readily-available aviation and space repositories in the country. Library materials are for reference use and cannot be checked out, duplication equipment is available.

The Library maintains an Aeronautical Library Information system of over 300,000 references that provides access to many of the special information files created by the library. Included are listings of over 80,000 aviation, an inventory of over 2,000 rare pamphlets, references to 14,000 scale aircraft drawings, and a listing of over 3,5000 biographical articles.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: No
Services
Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Group Tours
Exhibitions
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DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025

Westgate Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by: Public Lands Alliance

The Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show brings together nonprofits, land management agencies and companies to learn, network and engage on public lands issues. The 2025 Convention and Trade Show will take place Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV

Connect with peers, explore the latest in public lands products, and return inspired with new strategies and resources for success in conservation and visitor engagement

Our annual Convention and Trade Show (PLA) is the premier gathering for leaders in the public lands sector to network, gain essential tools, and explore products that enhance the visitor experience and support conservation, preservation, and enrichment efforts.

For more information, please call 301-946-9475.

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

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