A visit to the Peterson Air &Space Museum is an excellent way to get a sense of the past. This award-winning air park is centered around three landmarks and contains a total of 16 U.S. and Canadian aircraft, as well as missiles. Visitors to the Museum walk through time with the display aircraft, and information plaques are located at each display. Visitors can learn about the defense of North America during the Cold War. The museum also features four off-campus static aircraft located at different locations around the base. Visitors can also explore the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, which is on display on Peterson Road.
Admission to the Peterson Air &Space Museum is free, and the exhibits tell the history of the military in Colorado Springs. The museum features historic aircraft and displays, including the Warning Star, which was used as an early warning and control aircraft from the 1950s through the 1970s. It’s also the location of a memorial park for fallen members of the Air Force and is a great place to learn about the history of aviation in Colorado Springs.
If you’re flying in from the airport, there are ride-sharing services and commercial cabs available, but make sure you consider traffic conditions. Denver rush hour conditions can complicate driving times. Be sure to bring a current license, proof of vehicle registration, and proof of minimum insurance coverage. Once on base, vehicles may be searched. 100% ID checks may be required, depending on the mission.
Visitors can choose to take a self-guided tour, or choose to hire a tour guide to help you. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10am-4pm. Admission is free, though due to security reasons, the museum has some access controls. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the U.S. Air Force, then the Peterson Air & Space Museum is the place for you.
The Peterson Air &Space Museum is located on the grounds of the Air Force’s 21st Space Wing and is operated by the Air and Space Force. The base’s mission is to provide missile warning and space control for the United States Air Force and other international partners. Its headquarters, Peterson-Schriever Garrison, supports 80 mission partners in 22 locations worldwide. And the museum also hosts an exhibit on space exploration.
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In the 1940s, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport was used as a base for photography reconnaissance. In 1942, the base was renamed Peterson Army Air Base and was assigned the new mission of training bomber crews for overseas duties. In 1944, the base also added pilot training. In 1945, the bomber training was inactivated in favor of fighter training. The museum opened on April 17, 1951.
