THE GREATER ST. LOUIS AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

by Jamie Carter

In today’s struggling economy more and more families are seeking interesting but inexpensive forms of entertainment. And Cahokia has a hidden treasure. The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, located in Cahokia’s St. Louis Downtown Airport at 2300 Vector Drive, housed in historic Hangar 2.  The museum boasts a wide array of aircraft, displays and artifacts that reflect the rich aeronautical heritage of the St. Louis area. 

In 1926, Charles Lindbergh was the Chief Air Mail Pilot in St. Louis.  Lindbergh left at the end of that year to prepare for the most famous airplane flight ever made: his solo, New York to Paris flight in the "Spirit of St. Louis" in 1927.  Following the Lindbergh flight, Lambert Field was greatly expanded, aircraft manufacturing grew, Parks Air College in Cahokia was established, airlines were started, and the St. Louis area became a major aviation center. The region continued to support major aerospace activity through large-scale military aircraft production, airline and airport expansions, and research which led to America's first astronauts orbiting Earth in St. Louis-built Mercury and Gemini space capsules.

To preserve this vast aeronautical heritage, the Saint Louis Aviation Museum was incorporated in July 1982 as a not-for-profit Missouri corporation, and federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status was granted in May 1983. After the flood of 1993 (which damaged a number of the museums artifacts and displays) the Museum was moved from St Louis Spirit Airport in Chesterfield, Mo. to Cahokia’s St Louis Downtown Airport.  The Air & Space Museum continues as a Missouri charitable corporation although it operates in Illinois.

The fundamental purpose of the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum is education. The region's substantial contributions to the development of aerospace are preserved and displayed for the enjoyment and enlightenment of future generations. Besides the static exhibits, an active education program is conducted on-site and in area schools.  It is the museums mission to serve the public through preservation and display of historic air and space craft and artifacts and to provide educational programs to foster the spirit of flight in today’s youth and in future generations.

The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Volunteers are on hand to provide information, education and guided tours of some of the exhibits.  Admission is free although donations are requested and accepted.  Tours of some exhibits require a donation although it is nominal. For more information call 618-332-3664 or toll free at 877-332-3664. And please view the slide show accompanying this article for photos at the museum.

Some information for this article was obtained from the GREATER ST. LOUIS AIR & SPACE MUSEUM website at www.airandspacemuseum.org