Summary
The Northeastern United States is steeped in aviation history, from early pioneers to the jet age. This region is home to some of the country’s most famous museums, covering everything from military aviation to space exploration and airline heritage. Here are the must-visit aviation museums in the Northeast.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington, D.C.
The original 1903 Wright Flyer on display in Washington.
The most visited aviation museum in the world, and part of the Smithsonian Institution. The collection includes the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1, John Glenn’s Friendship 7 capsule, and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. Its recent renovation has added cutting-edge galleries.
Website: airandspace.si.edu
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center – Chantilly, Virginia
The NASM’s annex near Dulles Airport holds the large aircraft that don’t fit on the Mall. Highlights include the Space Shuttle Discovery, Enola Gay (the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima), the Concorde, and the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The catwalk viewing platforms give superb views across the hangars.
Website: airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – New York City, New York
Intrepid Museum in New York City.
Located aboard the WWII aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, this museum on Manhattan’s West Side offers naval aviation and space history. Exhibits include a fleet of carrier aircraft, the space shuttle Enterprise, and a Concorde once flown by British Airways.
Website: intrepidmuseum.org
Cradle of Aviation Museum – Garden City, New York
On Long Island, this museum celebrates the region’s aviation industry heritage, particularly Grumman and Republic Aviation. The collection features a Lunar Module replica, WWII aircraft, and jets developed in the area. It’s also home to a giant dome planetarium.
Website: cradleofaviation.org
American Helicopter Museum – West Chester, Pennsylvania
Mlickliter, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to rotorcraft. It features more than 35 helicopters and autogyros, including experimental and one-of-a-kind prototypes. Visitors can climb into cockpits and explore the evolution of vertical flight.
Website: americanhelicopter.museum
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum – Hammondsport, New York
Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
A museum dedicated to pioneer aviator Glenn Curtiss, who rivaled the Wright brothers and helped establish the American aviation industry. Exhibits include early flying boats, motorcycles designed by Curtiss, and replicas of his pioneering aircraft.
Website: curtissmuseum.org
New England Air Museum – Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Photo (c) Peter Miller
Located near Bradley International Airport, this is New England’s largest aviation museum. Its 80+ aircraft include a restored Sikorsky VS-44 flying boat, a B-29 Superfortress, an F-104 Starfighter, and numerous helicopters reflecting Sikorsky’s Connecticut roots.
Website: neam.org
Mid-Atlantic Air Museum – Reading, Pennsylvania
Martin 4-0-4 at the Mid-Atlantic Museum. Photo (c) Steve Knight
Best known for hosting the annual WWII Weekend Airshow, this museum maintains a large collection of flyable warbirds, including a P-61 Black Widow night fighter currently under restoration. The museum also has many classic general aviation and military types.
Website: maam.org
Have you visited any of these aviation museums? Leave a comment below!
