Now I realize it is the dead of winter and summer vacationers (along with Mahoney State Park visitor-spill-over) help the museum's numbers, but it does not seem possible that three to four months of peak admissions can pay for the rest of the year. Donations and corporate sponsors have to make up a huge chunk of their income whether they admit it or not. Besides, they cannot afford to be open on Wednesdays during the winter months or have a credit card machine in their cafeteria. Yeah that's right; "cash or check only" if you want some food or a drink during your visit.There is more to the museum than just a bunch of planes, missiles, and helicopters stored in a warehouse. The Strategic Air & Space Museum, with its impressive architecture and immaculate cleanliness, offers a pleasing and relaxing experience. As you walk up to the building you are welcomed by some intercontinental ballistic missiles from the Cold War and a gigantic glass-covered atrium that reveals a handsome SR-71. The museum consists of three sections. A visitor finds themselves in the middle section after they enter the building where admissions, a library, a gift shop, a cafeteria, and a traveling exhibit are all housed. An exhibit about the aeronautical inventions and sketches of Leonardo De Vinci was the traveling exhibit at the time of my visit.
The two outer sections or wings are absolutely packed with planes and other related items. The aircraft collection ranges from World War II through the Cold War and beyond. For those World War II buffs out there, the museum houses a B-17, a B-29, a B-25, and much more from the 40’s. The majority of exhibits are from the Cold War era. Monsters like the B-52, B-1A, B-36 are strategically placed in the hangers with smaller aircraft like the U-2, F-84, and F-111 parked by or hanging down around them. By the way, these brief lists only scratch
the surface on the huge variety of aircraft located at the museum. Free and paid tours are offered that help either those who know what a B-17 or B-52 is or those who are not familiar with an airplane at all. Visitors can actually view the restoration area where the staff and volunteers turn the rusted, paint-chipped, and forgotten husks into pristine and ready-for-action looking airplanes. One would never know someone actually did any work in the restoration area by how incredibly clean it is.
There are plenty of things for kids to do (plus admission for ages 4-12 is $5 and ages 3 and under are free). For instance there is a flight simulator for older children, numerous cockpits where young children can play with all of the switches and buttons, and even a brand-new jungle gym with slides, ladders, and ropes to keep your kid happy and entertained. Also, after looking at their website, the museum offers camps and sleepover opportunities for parties.
Overall, I think the Strategic Air & Space Museum is an excellent museum. Only a few other museums in the country (and I am talking about those in Washington D.C.) can outdo this one. The museum seems to be run very well, it has quality exhibits, and its cleanliness is impeccable. The admission fee seemed to be a tad high ($10 for adults) but I certainly understand why since they have to get the most out of the few visitors that actually come. The lack of a credit card machine was strange to me. Who carries cash anymore in our swipe-happy society? They might have more visitors if they would advertise more. I cannot remember the last time I saw a commercial or billboard advertisement involving the museum, if ever. Also, the museum might want to offer more chances for visitors to donate. I have been to museums all over the world and the majority of them place glass boxes near the entrance and throughout the building asking visitors to donate a few bills or pocket change. I do not know if it was just me, but I always seemed to put a few bucks, pounds, or euros in the box to help out. Plus, a lot of these museums were free to get into (which is probably why there were tons of people swarming throughout these museums). These are a few small suggestions that should not take away from my positive overall rating of the museum.
This article is not just about helping someone out who is down on their luck. It is more than that. It is about broadening your own mind and teaching something to yourself or your kids. So, I put it to you Omaha (and the surrounding community)! Gather up the kids, your significant other, or just yourself and drive a half-hour or less and take a look at this country's aerial history. If we do not support and use this valuable resource, we will lose it. We will have to travel all the way to Washington D.C. to see something of this caliber.
MY RATING (out of 10):
The two outer sections or wings are absolutely packed with planes and other related items. The aircraft collection ranges from World War II through the Cold War and beyond. For those World War II buffs out there, the museum houses a B-17, a B-29, a B-25, and much more from the 40’s. The majority of exhibits are from the Cold War era. Monsters like the B-52, B-1A, B-36 are strategically placed in the hangers with smaller aircraft like the U-2, F-84, and F-111 parked by or hanging down around them. By the way, these brief lists only scratch
the surface on the huge variety of aircraft located at the museum. Free and paid tours are offered that help either those who know what a B-17 or B-52 is or those who are not familiar with an airplane at all. Visitors can actually view the restoration area where the staff and volunteers turn the rusted, paint-chipped, and forgotten husks into pristine and ready-for-action looking airplanes. One would never know someone actually did any work in the restoration area by how incredibly clean it is.There are plenty of things for kids to do (plus admission for ages 4-12 is $5 and ages 3 and under are free). For instance there is a flight simulator for older children, numerous cockpits where young children can play with all of the switches and buttons, and even a brand-new jungle gym with slides, ladders, and ropes to keep your kid happy and entertained. Also, after looking at their website, the museum offers camps and sleepover opportunities for parties.
Overall, I think the Strategic Air & Space Museum is an excellent museum. Only a few other museums in the country (and I am talking about those in Washington D.C.) can outdo this one. The museum seems to be run very well, it has quality exhibits, and its cleanliness is impeccable. The admission fee seemed to be a tad high ($10 for adults) but I certainly understand why since they have to get the most out of the few visitors that actually come. The lack of a credit card machine was strange to me. Who carries cash anymore in our swipe-happy society? They might have more visitors if they would advertise more. I cannot remember the last time I saw a commercial or billboard advertisement involving the museum, if ever. Also, the museum might want to offer more chances for visitors to donate. I have been to museums all over the world and the majority of them place glass boxes near the entrance and throughout the building asking visitors to donate a few bills or pocket change. I do not know if it was just me, but I always seemed to put a few bucks, pounds, or euros in the box to help out. Plus, a lot of these museums were free to get into (which is probably why there were tons of people swarming throughout these museums). These are a few small suggestions that should not take away from my positive overall rating of the museum.
This article is not just about helping someone out who is down on their luck. It is more than that. It is about broadening your own mind and teaching something to yourself or your kids. So, I put it to you Omaha (and the surrounding community)! Gather up the kids, your significant other, or just yourself and drive a half-hour or less and take a look at this country's aerial history. If we do not support and use this valuable resource, we will lose it. We will have to travel all the way to Washington D.C. to see something of this caliber.
MY RATING (out of 10):
8 (++++++++++)
