Strategic Air and Space Museum

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SR-71A Blackbird on display at the museum.

The Strategic Air and Space Museum is located near Ashland, Nebraska, along Interstate 80. The museum began in 1959 as the Strategic Aerospace Museum at Offutt Air Force Base, but its name changed to the Strategic Air Command Museum or SAC Museum . In 1998, the museum moved to its present $29.5 million facility. The name was changed again in 2001 to the current Strategic Air and Space Museum though it is still referred to as the SAC Museum. In 1959, the first plane in the collection of the Strategic Aerospace Museum arrived at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. General Curtis LeMay's vision of a Museum that preserved historic aircraft had become a reality. Over the years, the Museum grew in size and popularity, and the name was changed to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum.

In 1998, after a 33 million-dollar grass roots capital campaign, the Museum moved to a location more accessible to the public With the rapid growth of the Museum, discussion began regarding reconsideration of its Aerospace heritage.

On June 15, 2001 the name of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum was changed to the Strategic Air & Space Museum. This change incorporated the Museum's rich past while reaching out to a growing audience through dynamic programming and exciting educational programs that captivate the interests and imaginations of everyone. The Museum will always be rooted in preserving the history of the Strategic Air Command and its role in securing peace. The future of the Museum will offer its ever-increasing number of visitors who seek to learn about math, science, engineering, aviation, and space through traveling and permanent exhibits and educational programs.

The Strategic Air & Space Museum is regarded as the nation's foremost facility of its kind, the $29.5 million museum opened on May 16, 1998, and preserves aircraft and missiles for future generations. The Museum is a 300,000 square foot building that features a glass atrium, two aircraft display hangars, a traveling exhibit area, a children's interactive gallery, a 200-seat theater, a Museum store, an aircraft restoration gallery, and a snack bar. The glass atrium is a breathtaking structure constructed of 525 glass panels that encase the awesome Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The two aircraft display hangars protect the aircraft collection and exhibits from harsh outdoor elements. We participate in an exhibit exchange program with other national museums and display them in the traveling exhibit area. The children's interactive gallery is both entertaining and educational, and features audiovisual programs and activities for children of all ages. Visitors can purchase souvenirs, gifts and educational items from the Museum store, and refresh themselves at the Plane Food snack bar. A unique feature of the Museum gives visitors the opportunity to watch the restoration of warplanes as technicians prepare them for display.

The museum is housed in a 300,000 ft² building that includes two display hangars, one restoration hangar, and a glass atrium showcasing an SR-71A Blackbird. The museum's collection includes examples of most aircraft operated by the Strategic Air Command, including: