For those seeking to see the best of aviation without the hustle and bustle of the National Air and Space Museum, College Park Aviation Museum is an excellent alternative.
Built on the first aviation academies in the country, the museum is now an affiliate of the National Air and Space Museum. Think of it as an extension that houses some of the most intriguing planes ever built. With a fun flight simulator and other family oriented activities, this little known alternative is a great place to enjoy aviation in a practical, hands-on approach.
College Park Airport, on which the museum stands, is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. It is a highly significant ground for aviation history, being the site of many “firsts” in flight. In 1909, Wilbur Wright trained the first two military pilots in a Wright Type A biplane, the first plane owned by the government. The plane was shipped to the airport in a crate, where the parts were unpacked and assembled together.
The first female to fly in an aircraft was taken to the skies by Wilbur Wright in 1909 as well. In 1911, the nation’s very first military aviation School was established there. The first postal airmail was established at College Park Airport in 1918 by the Post Office Department.