The Largest Aviation Museum In The World Is Just A Short Drive From Cincinnati
By Andrea Limke|Published November 11, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
The history of our city is proudly displayed at many local museums where you can immerse yourself in the past. Once you’ve had your fill of everything within the city limits, make sure to add a trip to Dayton to your schedule. About an hour north of Cincinnati, you’ll find the world’s largest military aviation museum – the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. With more than one million visitors each year, it’s one of the most popular destinations in Ohio and is definitely a place everyone should experience at least once.
Located on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not just the largest military aviation museum in the world, but also the oldest. It dates back to 1923 and now includes over 360 aircraft and missiles in four gigantic hangars.
Each hangar includes galleries that are organized by time period or theme. It can definitely take a whole day to experience the entire museum, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Admission to the museum is free, including parking, making it one of if not the best historic attraction in our region. All ages will appreciate the property for different reasons, and since we are so close, it's easy to visit again and again.
As you make your way through each hangar, be prepared to be in awe of the incredible collection of aircraft and memorabilia. The museum literally takes you back in time with its hundreds of displays, including artifacts from the Wright Brothers.
You can also expect to see pieces from all major wars, space exploration, research and development, and much more. When you plan your own visit, keep in mind that there are outdoor picnic areas (no outside food or drink allowed once inside), and there is also a cafeteria with a wide variety of snack and meal options.
One of the major highlights in the museum is the Presidential aircraft used by John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. It's an incredibly patriotic experience to see it up close and its history is astounding. This aircraft carried President and Mrs. Kennedy to Dallas on the day of the President's assassination in 1963. Vice President Johnson was then sworn in as President while aboard after the assassination and the aircraft then carried Kennedy's body back to Washington.
You can board this plane for yourself and learn all about its history. There are actually many interactive attractions within the museum that both children and adults will enjoy.
There's so much to see, learn about, and reflect upon at this massive museum, and you'll definitely want to plan to take the short drive from Cincinnati to experience it.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is a sprawling display of our nation’s history and an exciting experience, and it’s just a short drive from Cincinnati. Have you been to the largest military aviation museum in the world? Is it on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments!
The National Museum of the US Air Force is located at 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, OH 45431. For more information and to plan your visit, head over to the museum’s website here.
And for more local museums around Cincinnati that are worth a visit, check out our previous article here.
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