May 14 2009
Minnesota Air National Guard Museum in St. Paul
Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum bills itself as the largest collection of military aircraft in a five-state region. Aircraft on display range greatly in size and in history, and for anyone interested in the military or in airplanes, it’s an interesting place to visit.
The museum is located on an active military base, so you’ll have to check in and go through security at the gate before proceeding to the museum parking lot. The entrance to the base is just across the street from the Ft. Snelling light-rail station. Admission to the museum is free.
The Air National Guard Museum is open only on select weekends, so be sure to check the museum’s website for information. Some days are designated as “open cockpit” days, which means that you may actually be able to sit in the cockpit of a plane. Our kids loved “driving” the helicopter and seeing the cargo area of the transport plane. Volunteers were on hand at various aircraft to answer questions. My husband really enjoyed seeing the F-16 and learning about it from a knowledgeable person.
Part of the museum is indoors, but many of the planes are in the outdoor air park, so be sure to dress for the weather when visiting.
The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum may not be widely known, but it will be interesting for anyone interested in aircraft.
Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
My kids will absolutely love this place, especially during the ‘open cockpit day’. Thanks for sharing!
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