The Strategic Air and Space Museum is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization which receives no government funding. Donations are tax exempt to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Museum earns more than 70% of its annual operating budget through admissions, store sales, membership, facility rental and special events.
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 to its present location near Ashland, Nebraska just off I-80 at exit 426. 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 promotes education through curriculum and resource development in aviation and aerospace topics. Our goal is to assist teachers in applying high-interest topics to various areas of study at all grade levels. We have programs designed for schools to promote various aerospace fields of study and encourage participation through formal school group tours and classroom activities.
The Museum is also a showplace that is available for all types of businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations for meetings, parties, social gatherings, and seminars. Our centralized location is ideal for organizations from both Omaha and Lincoln, as well as for national reunions or gatherings.
