Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility

Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility
Name	Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility
Established	1952 (as Silver Hill facility)
Location	Suitland, Maryland, U.S.
Type	Aircraft preservation and storage
Owner	Smithsonian Institution
Publictransit	Suitland station

Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility is a former Smithsonian Institution site dedicated to the conservation and storage of historic aircraft and spacecraft. Located in Suitland, Maryland, the complex served for decades as the primary restoration and storage center for the National Air and Space Museum. Named in honor of the museum’s first curator, Paul E. Garber, the facility played a critical role in preserving America's aeronautical heritage before the opening of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

History and establishment

The site's origins trace to 1952 when the Smithsonian Institution acquired land in Suitland, Maryland to address the pressing storage needs of its growing aeronautics collection. This move was largely championed by Paul E. Garber, a pioneering curator and historian who had been instrumental in forming the National Air Museum, later renamed the National Air and Space Museum. Under Garber's leadership, the facility evolved from simple storage sheds into a complex of specialized buildings capable of full-scale aircraft restoration. The site was formally renamed in his honor in 1980, recognizing his lifelong dedication to preserving aviation history.

Facility and operations

The Suitland campus comprised over thirty buildings, including multiple large hangars, workshops, and environmentally controlled storage areas. Operations were divided between the Preservation and Restoration Unit, which handled complex conservation work, and the Collections Management Unit, responsible for cataloging and storage. The facility featured specialized labs for treating materials like fabric covering, wood, and metal, and its staff included experts in fields such as aeronautical engineering and conservation science. Its location near Washington, D.C. and major institutions like the National Archives facilitated research and collaboration.

Collections and storage

For half a century, the Garber Facility housed the majority of the National Air and Space Museum's reserve collection, acting as its primary collections repository. This immense assemblage included iconic artifacts like the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, the Douglas World Cruiser, and the Gemini IV spacecraft. The collection spanned the history of flight, from early gliders and World War I biplanes to Cold War-era missiles and jet engines. Storage methods evolved to meet modern museum conservation standards, utilizing custom cradles, climate control, and detailed documentation to ensure the long-term preservation of these irreplaceable objects.

Restoration projects

The facility was renowned for its extensive restoration projects, returning historically significant aircraft to display condition. Notable undertakings included the meticulous restoration of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as "Enola Gay," the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, and the Wright Flyer replica. Each project involved extensive historical research, often consulting original blueprints from manufacturers like North American Aviation and Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. These efforts required collaboration with veterans' groups, former pilots from the United States Army Air Forces, and technical advisors from NASA.

Role in museum operations

Beyond storage and restoration, the Garber Facility was an active center for scholarship and museum operations. It served as a vital resource for researchers, historians, and curators from the Smithsonian Institution and external organizations like the United States Air Force. The site also supported the main museum on the National Mall by preparing artifacts for loan and exhibition. Furthermore, it hosted a popular public tour program for decades, offering visitors a rare behind-the-scenes look at museum conservation work, which helped foster public interest in aerospace history.

Future and the Udvar-Hazy Center

The operational role of the Garber Facility diminished significantly following the 2003 opening of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This massive annex to the National Air and Space Museum provided vastly expanded public display space and modern, integrated collection storage. Consequently, the majority of the aircraft and spacecraft were transferred from Suitland, Maryland to the new center. The future of the Garber site was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution's broader administrative purview, with its legacy remaining foundational to the field of aeronautical preservation.

Category:National Air and Space Museum Category:Aerospace museums in Maryland Category:Museums in Prince George's County, Maryland Category:Buildings and structures in Suitland, Maryland Category:1952 establishments in Maryland