Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Name	Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Established	0 1991
Location	McMinnville, Oregon, United States
Type	Aviation museum, Space museum
Founder	Delford M. Smith
Website	https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/

Contents

History
Exhibits and collections
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
Evergreen Museum Campus
Educational programs and events
See also

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. It is a prominent aviation and space museum located in McMinnville, Oregon, renowned for housing the legendary Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose" aircraft. Founded by Delford M. Smith, the founder of Evergreen International Aviation, the museum opened to the public in 1991. Its extensive collection spans the history of flight, from early World War I-era biplanes to modern jet aircraft and significant space exploration artifacts, making it a major educational and tourist destination in the Pacific Northwest.

History

The museum's origins are deeply tied to the legacy of Delford M. Smith and his company, Evergreen International Aviation, a major global aviation services firm. The institution began as a private collection in the late 1980s, with a core mission to preserve significant aerospace technology. A pivotal moment occurred in 1992 when the museum acquired the Hughes H-4 Hercules from the Aero Club of Southern California after its long-term display next to the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The massive aircraft was meticulously disassembled, transported by barge up the Pacific Coast and Willamette River, and reassembled in McMinnville, Oregon, a process completed in 2001. This acquisition fundamentally transformed the museum's scale and international profile, leading to the construction of a dedicated main exhibit hall.

Exhibits and collections

The museum's collections are displayed across two main buildings: the Aviation Museum and the separate Space Museum. The aviation collection features over 150 historically significant aircraft, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance plane, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from World War II, and a Martin Mars flying boat. The space museum highlights artifacts from the NASA Space Race, such as a Titan II missile, a Lunar Rover trainer, and a full-scale replica of the Bell X-1 in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. Other notable exhibits include a MiG-21 fighter from the Soviet Air Forces, a Caproni Ca.161 altitude research plane, and a Fokker Dr.I triplane reminiscent of the aircraft flown by Manfred von Richthofen.

Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)

The centerpiece of the museum is the Hughes H-4 Hercules, the world's largest flying boat and the largest aircraft ever constructed from wood. Designed and built by Howard Hughes and his Hughes Aircraft company during World War II, it was intended as a transatlantic transport for the United States War Department. The aircraft, made primarily of birch rather than spruce, made its only flight on November 2, 1947, in Long Beach Harbor, piloted by Hughes himself. After decades in storage and display in California, its relocation to McMinnville, Oregon was a monumental feat of logistics. It is now displayed in a climate-controlled gallery, accompanied by exhibits on its construction, the life of Howard Hughes, and the Glenn L. Martin Company which contributed to its design.

Evergreen Museum Campus

The museum campus encompasses several major facilities beyond the main exhibit halls. Adjacent to the aviation museum is the Wings & Waves Waterpark, a unique educational waterpark featuring four actual Boeing 747 aircraft mounted on its roof, with water slides exiting from their fuselages. The campus also includes the Evergreen Theater, a large-format digital theater, and the Captain Michael King Smith Educational Center, named for the founder's son. The grounds feature memorials to veterans, including those from the Korean War and Vietnam War, and display outdoor exhibits like a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and a North American F-86 Sabre.

Educational programs and events

The museum operates extensive educational outreach through its Aviation Science and STEM programs, offering summer camps, classroom workshops, and scout badge programs. It hosts major annual events such as the "Warbirds & Classics" airshow, which features flyovers by historic aircraft from the Commemorative Air Force. The facility is a popular venue for private events and corporate gatherings and offers guided tours focusing on specific themes like World War II aviation or the Apollo program. Its archives and library support academic research into aerospace history and technology.