The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey was founded in 1972 and is dedicated to the preservation of the Garden State's notable, two-century aviation and space heritage. The men and women, whose distinguished aeronautical attainments have brought global repute to the state, are recognized in the Hall of Fame. The museum offers visitors a chance to see historic aircraft, air and space artifacts, images, fine art and an extensive collection of aircraft models.

The Library has a collection of more than 2,500 volumes and hundreds of aviation videotapes that includes an extensive record of aviation related books, photographs, Curtis-Wright engine manuals, and a huge aviation scrapbook collection. The library is available for research studies, projects and by appointments.

The museum exposes kids and students to the aerospace industry's career potential in engineering, spaceflight, research, management, piloting, manufacturing and other ancillary industries. Every year the Aviation Hall of Fame recognizes four individuals who came from New Jersey and who have made a tremendous contribution to the state?s aerospace industry.

Two of the biggest names who have been enshrined to the Hall of Fame are Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974), who was inducted in 1973, and Amelia Earnhart, who was recognized just last year. Lindbergh was an American aviator who made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May 20-21, 1927, while Earnhart was the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, making her the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross award.

The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey gets valuable support from the Port Authority of New York and the State of New Jersey in helping maintain the museum's operation. It provides an enriching experience to all people about New Jersey's role in attaining innovative air and space missions and accomplishments. Be it seniors or the young, everyone can appreciate the huge contribution that New Jersey's citizens and companies have made.