Alaska Aviation Museum, Anchorage

The Alaska Aviation Museum, set along the shores of Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, offers a comprehensive dive into Alaska’s rich aviation legacy. Since opening in 1988, the museum has dedicated itself to preserving and celebrating Alaska’s aviation heritage, which has been integral to the state’s development. Visitors can explore over thirty vintage aircraft, including restored models, inside four expansive hangars—Main, Rasmuson, South, and the specialized Restoration Hangar. Here, dedicated volunteers breathe new life into aircraft, such as the Grumman Goose, which returned to flight in May 2024.

The museum provides interactive displays, simulators, two theaters, and an impressive Hall of Fame, spotlighting the trailblazers of Alaskan aviation. Unique artifacts like the Merrill Field control tower cab (active from 1962 to 2002) and memorabilia from bush flying and WWII operations, including the Adak Island Army base, enrich the museum’s offerings.

Strategically located near Anchorage International Airport, the museum also offers outdoor exhibits and a stunning vantage point over Lake Hood, where visitors can watch the world’s busiest seaplane base in action, listening to live air traffic communications.