National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force
The world's largest military aviation museum. Four huge hangars display more than 360 aircraft and missiles. Admission is free, making it a classic day trip from Cincinnati.
The museum is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on the outskirts of Dayton. Its exhibits trace the story from the Wright brothers' era through the Cold War and the Space Age. Highlights include the B-29 “Bockscar,” the same type of aircraft that bombed Hiroshima; the XB-70 Valkyrie; the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft; several presidential aircraft, including Air Force One; and the Apollo 15 command module. The collection is so vast that it is hard to see everything in one day. Admission is free, but you must pass through security, and large bags are not allowed inside. It is about a one-hour drive from Cincinnati, and you can combine it with the Wright Brothers National Historical Park in Dayton. It is usually open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Kings Island
- Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- American Sign Museum
- Eden Park
- Krohn Conservatory
- Cincinnati Art Museum
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site