The National Museum of the United States Air Force stared out in 1923 as a small World War I exhibit at Dayton’s McCook Field. First located in a lab building, the Museum moved to a new location at the new aviation research center after a few years when Wright Field was opened in 1935. When the United States was drawn into WW II, the collection of the museum was stored so that the building could be utilized for wartime functions.

Today, the Museum houses one of the best military aviation collections. Chronologically arranged, it contains features on airplanes and exhibits, World War II aviation, and other artifacts.

The Museum also consists of its new buildings, the Missile and Space Gallery and the Eugene W. Kettering Cold War Gallery. Visitors can also view the Presidential and Research and Development/Flight
Test Galleries.