The MAPS Air Museum is an internationally renowned aviation museum and a center of aviation history in Northeast Ohio. It is run by the Military Aviation Preservation Society and is located next to SR241, on the west side of Akron-Canton Regional Airport. The museum houses more than 50 aircraft, most of them provided by the United States Air Force or Navy for restoration. In addition, visitors can find bombers, warplanes, historic aircraft and more on display.
The museum also offers several interactive exhibits that make it ideal for all ages. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is one of the pillars of the local community and is the largest collection of military aviation history in the world. It features more than 360 different aircraft on display, including iconic flyers such as the Memphis Belle or the Apollo 15 command module. The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a great place to learn about the legends that shaped aviation and space travel.
It is located in the National Aviation Heritage Area, an entire corner of Southwestern Ohio that pays homage to Ohio's influence and legacy during flight. The Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery is a new permanent exhibition that celebrates the legacy of the Apollo 11 mission. This gallery focuses on an immersive 360-degree theatrical experience and also features four unique artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission. The MAPS Air Museum was founded in 1990 in collaboration with warbird collector David Tallichet and his Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation.
It opened its doors to the public in 1995 and offers visitors a chance to build a replica of the Wright B Flyer, the first factory-made aircraft in the United States. The museum also serves as a repository of the impact of women in the space and aviation industry, currently exhibiting permanent exhibitions of adored female flyers such as Amelia Earhart, The Mercury 13 and Harriet Quimby, the first American woman to obtain a pilot's license. Ohio has been home to many of America's beloved astronauts and aviators, and it has helped fuel their success. MAPS Air Museum offers visitors an insight into a story not found in books or movies.
Located in Wapakoneta, Neil Armstrong's hometown, this museum serves as a repository for everything related to Ohio's contribution to aerospace.
