Learn about Southern California aviation history through full-size aircraft and artifacts from Santa Monica and around the world.
Originally founded in 1974 by Donald Douglas Jr. as the Douglas Museum and Library located on the South side of the Santa Monica Airport, the Museum migrated to the North side of the Airport and reopened as the Museum of Flying in April of 1989. The Museum gradually grew to a collection of over 50 vintage aircraft with many still in flight ready condition.
The anchor aircraft for the Museum was the Douglas World Cruiser, "New Orleans" which made the first circumnavigation of the globe along with its sister ship, "Chicago", in 1924. The Chicago now sits at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum. The museum's collection of artifacts, exhibits, and aviation art chronicle the development of aviation in Southern California.
Over the next several year's the museum played host to many historic and memorable special events and activities, including "A Walk on the Moon" in 1999 in which 7 NASA lunar astronauts were present and honored for their advancement in the discovery of space and the moon. In 2000, the museum held the 60th Commemorative Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Attendees at this event witnessed first-hand accounts of this epic air battle, live and in person from several RAF and Luftwaffe pilots who joined us for this milestone occasion.
The Museum was forced to temporarily close in July of 2002 due to economic challenges. Since that time, Museum officials have been in discussion with the City of Santa Monica on a suitable new location at the Santa Monica Airport. Recently, the Museum executed a lease agreement with the City of Santa Monica for the leasehold at 3100 Airport Avenue. The new Museum expansion and remodeling project is estimated to cost nearly $2 million. Construction and the Capital Campaign to support it are in progress. Please support the construction effort by making a donation.
The Museum of Flying is dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich history of the growth and development of aviation and aerospace in Southern California. Special emphasis is placed on the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Santa Monica Airport. The Santa Monica Airport was the birthplace of the Douglas World Cruiser, the first aircraft to circumnavigate globe. This led to the company slogan for many years of "Around the world first, first the world around". In the early 1930's, the Santa Monica Airport witnessed the first flights of the famous DC-3 Aircraft that virtually changed the field of aviation and air travel worldwide.
The Santa Monica Airport played a vital role in the production of military aircraft during World War II, with Donald W. Douglas serving as czar of aircraft production for the United States as appointed by President Roosevelt. By the early 1950's, 90% of worldwide air travel took place on Douglas built aircraft. The Museum chronicles both the growth of Douglas and the many other aviation and aerospace companies that were started by individuals who actually started with the Douglas Aircraft Company. Here, visitors will see a broadly diverse collection of aircraft, exhibits, artifacts, and aviation art that tell the story of aviation both locally and globally.
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