Museum of Flight (Seattle, Wash.)
Historical Note: The Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is an independent air and space museum founded in 1965 and located in Seattle, Washington.
In 1964 a small group of aviation enthusiasts realized that important and historic artifacts representing the evolution of flight were being lost or destroyed at an incredible rate. To aid in the preservation of these artifacts, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation was established with the goal of saving significant aircraft and related artifacts to educate the public about their importance.
It soon became clear that a place to store and exhibit these artifacts was needed, and in 1965 the first official Museum of Flight exhibits were put on display in a 10,000 square-foot space at the Seattle Center, the location of the 1962 World’s Fair.
The concept for The Museum of Flight complex began to take in 1975 when the Port of Seattle leased the land on which the Boeing Red Barn now sits to the Museum for 99 years. The Red Barn, the birthplace of The Boeing Company, was saved from demolition in its original location on the Duwamish River and floated by river barge to its current location. The Red Barn was restored in 1983 and became the first permanent location for The Museum of Flight.
The Red Barn was eventually joined by the Great Gallery in 1987, the Library and Archives Building in 2002 and the J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing and Airpark in 2004. The Museum of Flight continues to expand its exhibits, experiences and educational programs--paying homage to the history of flight and inspiring the entertainment and education of generations to come.
Found in 20 Collections and/or Records:
Baker, Sydney J. -- oral history interview, 2019 August 29
Margaret E. (Wolfe) Berry Collection
Robert R. and Canadette Dickson Museum of Flight Scrapbook
The Robert R. and and Canadette Museum of Flight Scrapbook is a single-item collection, created by Robert R. and Canadette Dickson and documents their involvement with The Museum of Flight and related restoration projects from 1978-1987. The scrapbook includes clippings, printed ephemera, and photographs. Topics include the Boeing Model 80A restoration, Pathfinder Awards, and Red Barn. Some pages and materials are quite loose and/or fragile.
Julianne Kumasaka International Taketombo Association Scrapbook
The Museum of Flight Biographical Information Files
The Biographical Files are an artificial collection with textual and photographic files on more than 1600 prominent people and groups in the space and aviation industries.
The Museum of Flight General Aircraft Files
The Museum of Flight General Aircraft Files are an artificial collection with photographic files on thousands of aircraft models and variants and related aviation and aerospace subjects.
The Museum of Flight Oral History Collection
The Museum of Flight Oral Interview Collection contains recordings and transcripts of oral interviews conducted by Museum staff with people connected to the aviation and aerospace fields. The project began in 2013 and is ongoing.
Tim A. Nelson Aviation Photographs
Clayton Scott Aviation Collection
Clayton Scott Papers
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org