Air and Space Museums September 2017

 Air and Space Museums September 2017

 September found us on the road, or in the air, as we headed towards Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Who would have guessed that we would make two visits to two different air and space museums on either end of our trip? It did not hurt that I am a big fan of the SR-71 Blackbird airplane and both locations had one on display. There was a lot to see and do at each museum. There is great coverage of the history of flight and more. Definitely worth the time to visit! They were great bookends to a fantastic trip!

 Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

 “The Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia is our companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Opened in 2003, its two huge hangars — the Boeing Aviation Hangar and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar — display thousands of aviation and space artifacts, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a Concorde, and the Space Shuttle Discovery. The Center also offers the Airbus IMAX® Theater and the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, which gives you a 360-degree bird's-eye view of Washington Dulles International Airport and the surrounding area. Udvar-Hazy Center is also home to the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar where preservation of the National Air and Space Museum's collections takes place. A glassed-in mezzanine provides a view of restoration projects in progress. Researchers will also find the majority of the Archives' collections at the Udvar-Hazy Center reading room.”

 https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center

 https://www.si.edu/museums/air-and-space-museum-udvar-hazy-center

Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum

 “The Strategic Air Command (SAC) & Aerospace Museum, located between Lincoln and Omaha near Interstate 80, utilizes over 300,000 square feet of exhibit, education, and event space to educate, inspire, and entertain its guests who come from Nebraska, across the country, and around the world.  The museum first opened in 1959 with the mission to commemorate the aircraft of the Strategic Air Command.  The museum became well-known by giving the public the opportunity to visit an impressive array of aircraft that helped SAC preserve the peace during the Cold War.”

 “In a natural extension of the Omaha community’s civic pride and longstanding support for Offutt Air Force Base, community leaders began a campaign to develop a new state-of-the-art facility that would not only house SAC aircraft and artifacts, but also provide a venue for the restoration of aircraft, preservation and display of historical artifacts, and the education of future generations in the areas of history, technology, and science. The museum moved to its current location in 1998 upon completion of an impressive new indoor facility.“

 “The museum has recently embarked on a multi-faceted effort to make full and best use of its facility.  In recognition and appreciation of its heritage as the keeper of the Strategic Air Command’s history, the museum is exploring ways to better display its SAC artifacts and more effectively tell the story of SAC’s efforts to preserve the peace during the Cold War.  Few, if any, museums are as well positioned to tell the story about this critical time in America’s history.”

 “The SAC story, however, is about far more than the conflict that simmered between the US and the Soviet Union between the end of World War II and the dissolution of the Soviet regime.  The SAC story is also about scientific exploration, technological innovation, and a genuine commitment to the rigorous education and training of Americans to preserve our nation’s security and enhance its prosperity.  In this regard, the museum is recommitting itself to building on the significant scientific and technological contributions of those Americans who served in SAC or supported its mission. As part of this commitment to education, the museum has recently established a partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education to provide cutting-edge educational opportunities for students, teachers, families, and adult learners.  Temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits, and a variety of special events will provide additional unique experiences for the museum’s members and visitors.”

 https://sacmuseum.org

 “Visit the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate and the home to the largest collection of Cold War aircraft and artifacts in the United States! Visitors can get up and close to iconic aircraft including the magnificent SR-71 Blackbird, nine bombers including a B-36J “Peacemaker”, B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ and a B-1A “Lancer”, missiles, spacecraft such as the Apollo Command Space Module, as well as a collection of Astronaut Clayton Anderson artifacts, Nebraska’s own astronaut. Join us for one of our special events such as the Family Fun Carnival, Science Fair, Helicopter Day or Indoor Air Show! The Museum also offers a wide range of exciting summer and winter camps, including the Astronaut Academy, Mad Scientist and Robot Academy camps. Enjoy free public tour everyday at 11 AM, take a ride in the flight simulator or buy gifts in our museum visitor shop. There is something for everyone at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum!”

 https://www.visitomaha.com/listings/strategic-air-command-and-aerospace-museum/57229/

To see a list of all of my blogs with the links included, please go to:

https://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

 I hope that the images tell a tale of our visit to these unique locations. Feel free to comment and share the link to this blog with others. Thanks for looking!