National Aviation Day is observed on August 19 every year – but we don’t need a reason to visit the best air & space musems in Kansas!
Best Air & Space Museums to Visit in Kansas
Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
16701 286th Rd
Atchison, KS 66002
The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is the newest museum in Kansas & honors Earhart’s aviation legacy and inspires all generations in the pursuit of flight.
The centerpiece is Muriel — the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E — an aircraft identical to the plane Earhart flew on her final flight. Muriel is named after Amelia’s younger sister, Grace Muriel Earhart Morrissey.
Fourteen, interactive, immersive STEM exhibits take visitors through Earhart’s adventurous life — from growing up in Atchison, Kansas, to the height of her worldwide fame — as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitor Center
1788 S Airport Rd.
Wichita, KS 67209
The B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center provides a unique and one-of-a-kind look into aviation history. Located in Wichita, Kan., at Eisenhower National Airport, the 42,000 sq. ft. facility is an interactive experience for all ages.
Combat Air Museum
Regional Airport, 7016 SE Forbes Ave
Topeka, KS 66619
The Combat Air Museum has served as an educational institution and tourism destination for 48 years. It is one of a handful of major aviation museums in the United States located on an active air field!
Visitors to our Museum are regularly treated to flying activities of Air Force fighter aircraft and Army helicopter operations. With the longest runway in the State of Kansas, large refueling tanker aircraft of the Kansas Air National Guard and army troop transports often fill the skies around the Museum.
On exhibit at the Museum:
- 47 aircraft ranging from the earliest aviation period to the present day
- Largest collection of WWI replica aircraft in the Mid-West (12)
- Historic aircraft engines of many sizes and types, including a rare Whittle Gas Turbine Engine
- An extensive display of artifacts and dioramas and a growing gallery of military aviation art
Cosmosphere
1100 N. Plum St.
Hutchinson, KS 67501
In 1998 the Cosmosphere was named one of the first affiliates of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Hall of Space begins with the story of the WWII German rocket design that evolved to power the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. As you proceed through the galleries, you will see the story of the space race between the United States and the U.S.S.R. unfold. You’ll learn about technological and cultural differences between the two superpowers through their intense competition to be the first to reach the Moon.
Included in your ticket price is CosmosKids, an interactive STEM learning experience. Don’t forget to download the Sunflower Summer app for free admission this summer!
Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum
2002 N Buckeye St.
Coffeyville, KS
Dedicated to early aviation and pioneer pilots of the area, the Aviation Heritage Museum features many displays that include memorabilia from the Coffeyville Air Base as well as an airplane and Breezy that were previously owned by Joe Funk and donated to the museum.
The Aviation Heritage Museum in Coffeyville will host a nationally touring exhibit in 2024. The NASA Exhibit is called “Explore the Universe”, and will take visitors on a journey through the triumphs and challenges faced by astronauts as they explore the vastness of space.
Tourism Director Amy Dollar says there will be many attractions to check out. The new exhibit will be open between March 20th and June 14th, 2024 at the museum in Pfister Park. Dollar says schools and clubs should reach out to schedule a visit time.
Design Build Fly at Exploration Place
Exploration Place
Wichita, Kansas 67203
Kansas Aviaiton Museum
3350 South George Washington Blvd.
Wichita, KS 67210
The Kansas Aviation Museum is a great attraction for any flight fanatic. Indoor & outdoor exhibits, an historic airport terminal, and the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame are all housed in the original Wichita Municipal Airport built in 1935.
Mid-America Air Museum
2000 W. Second St.
Liberal, KS
Featuring over 100 aircraft of all types including: 15 WWII planes including a B-25, TBM Avenger, and a rare F4U-5N Corsair on loan from the National Museum of the Marine Corp, 11 Korean War era aircraft, 15 Vietnam era aircraft, over 25 commercially produced aircraft, 26 experimental class aircraft, 6 helicopters, 2 gyroplanes, an interactive hot air balloon, an F-14 Tomcat on loan from the National Museum of the Navy, and 11 different aircraft engines , a 57 T-Bird, Willy Jeep, and a 40s/50s era Valentine Diner all make this musem a must-see for aviation fans!
TWA Museum
10 Richards Road
Kansas City, MO
OK, this one isn’t in Kansas, but it’s so close we had to include it. The mission of the TWA Museum is “to preserve and celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Trans World Airlines (TWA), educate visitors about its pioneering spirit and contributions to aviation history, and to inspire future generations.” From the birth of airmail to the inception of passenger air travel, to the post-WWII era of global route expansion, TWA led the way for 75 years.
