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History Lesson: The Museum of Flight

by Angie McDonald

August 10, 2009

It's no surprise that Seattle, as the decades-long home to Boeing, is a mecca of flight history and artifacts. But did you know that in 1964, a handful of aviation enthusiasts founded The Museum of Flight and housed it in a 10,000 square-foot space at the Seattle Center? Then, in the mid 1970s, The Port of Seattle granted The Museum of Flight a plot of land and The Red Barn, the birthplace of Boeing and the oldest plane manufacturing facility in America, was saved from demolition and floated up the Duwamish river on a barge. The Museum of Flight was centered around this Red Barn.

The Museum of Flight has grown exponentially in the past 35 years. It is full of aeronautical and aerospace history. And as the mom of a young boy, this is very good news indeed.

The first time we took Milo to the Museum of Flight, he was two. And, oh, how he loved it. The Red Barn is still there, but so is the Great Gallery, a six-story glass and steel structure in which 20 full-sized aircraft hang from its frame.

There is also the Airpark, where you can see a Concorde, Air Force One and the first Boeing 747, among other fascinating jets.

The William Allen Theater features free movies everyday where you can relax with your preschooler and watch aviation history come to life onscreen.

The museum's newest addition is the huge J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing containing dramatic, interactive exhibits highlighting World War I and II fighter planes.

Located a bit off the beaten path, south of downtown Seattle on Marginal Way, The Museum of Flight is a venue that many city dwellers forget to visit. But it's worth the drive. Educational, fascinating and, at times, thrilling, it's a fabulous salute to an industry that has helped form Seattle.

Children 4 and under get in free. The fee for youths (5 to 17) is $7.50 and adults $14.

Go to The Museum of Flight's website for more information.
It's no surprise that Seattle, as the decades-long home to Boeing, is a mecca of flight history and artifacts. But did you know that in 1964, a handful of aviation enthusiasts founded The Museum of Flight and housed it in a 10,000 square-foot space at the Seattle Center? Then, in the mid 1970s, The Port of Seattle granted The Museum of Flight a plot of land and The Red Barn, the birthplace of Boeing and the oldest plane manufacturing facility in America, was saved from demolition and floated up the Duwamish river on a barge. The Museum of Flight was centered around this Red Barn.

The Museum of Flight has grown exponentially in the past 35 years. It is full of aeronautical and aerospace history. And as the mom of a young boy, this is very good news indeed.

The first time we took Milo to the Museum of Flight, he was two. And, oh, how he loved it. The Red Barn is still there, but so is the Great Gallery, a six-story glass and steel structure in which 20 full-sized aircraft hang from its frame.

There is also the Airpark, where you can see a Concorde, Air Force One and the first Boeing 747, among other fascinating jets.

The William Allen Theater features free movies everyday where you can relax with your preschooler and watch aviation history come to life onscreen.

The museum's newest addition is the huge J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing containing dramatic, interactive exhibits highlighting World War I and II fighter planes.

Located a bit off the beaten path, south of downtown Seattle on Marginal Way, The Museum of Flight is a venue that many city dwellers forget to visit. But it's worth the drive. Educational, fascinating and, at times, thrilling, it's a fabulous salute to an industry that has helped form Seattle.

Children 4 and under get in free. The fee for youths (5 to 17) is $7.50 and adults $14.

Go to The Museum of Flight's website for more information.

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