Located in Anchorage, Alaska, along the shores of Lake Hood, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum stands in tribute to the state’s pilots and aviation industry. 25 different aircraft are on display at the facility, all of which are accompanied by a carefully designed array of historical images alongside other artifacts.
The museum sits just half a mile from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), which once served as the crossroads of aviation between Europe, North America, and Asia in an era of shorter-ranged aircraft when overflying the former Soviet Union was not permitted. Unsurprisingly, the museum has some fascinating exhibits for an aviation enthusiast to explore.
The museum’s exhibits
Of the 25 aircraft on display within the museum’s collection, the majority date back to the first half of the 20th century. The earliest aircraft on display, a Travel Air 6000, even dates all the way back to 1929. Other aircraft on display at the museum exist in an exhibit dedicated to the history of Alaska Airlines.
As many aircraft in the museum date back to the 1930s and 40s, two notable models are a Waco YKC from 1934 and a 1943 Grumman Widgeon. Some amphibious aircraft, such as a Sikorski S-43 Baby Clipper, can also be seen at the museum. In addition to the museum’s civilian collection, some military aircraft, including an F-15 Eagle, are also on display.
Among the largest items in the museum’s collection is a Boeing 737-200, flown by Alaska Airlines. The aircraft is a combi, or combination passenger and freighter aircraft, and ultimately flew over 68,000 miles for the major airline. While the jet initially entered service in 1981, it would continue to provide essential operations to Alaskan communities until 2007.
A unique display
One of the museum’s exhibits is interestingly unrelated to aviation but instead celebrates a unique event in Alaskan military history. In the spring of 1943, the Japanese captured the Aleutian Island of Attu, the only soil within the 50 US states ever occupied by the enemy during World War II.
Photo: Alaska Aviation Museum
Courageous servicemen at the Battle of Attu were able to recapture the island, bringing an end to the terror of Japanese control. The museum celebrates this victory in a unique section of the facility’s northernmost exhibit hall.
A noteworthy location
The museum is located on the shore of Lake Hood, which bears the not-insignificant distinction of being the busiest seaplane base in the United States. Over 87,000 aircraft land and take off annually at the lake, with roughly 190 daily takeoffs and landings.
Photo: Aviation History Museums
Additionally, the seaplane base has an adjacent gravel runway, shorter than the four primary water landing areas but still able to handle some traffic. For aircraft heading to Anchorage too small to need the city’s Ted Stevens Airport, the combined land-water base can be an ideal place to touch down.
Across the board, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum stands as a shrine to Alaska’s strong aviation heritage. Visitors can marvel at the wonders of both Alaskan aviation and the state’s rich legacy of military service.