Visiting The Denver Air And Space Museum

The intergalactic technology exhibits at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum include models and displays demonstrating spacecraft and missile technology both historically and in the future. Visitors get to explore the science of spaceflight with the interactive exhibit and experience the adventure.

The Space Station Module started life as Martin-Marietta’s mock-up for a proposed cosmos station entry to be called “Freedom.” The original proposal was for an American-only cosmos station.

The concept was later changed to include Russia and the European Space Agency and became known as the International Space Station. Martin’s entry into the proposal race was rejected and ultimately found its way to this Denver museum.

The institution also has an Apollo Command Module boilerplate. This is a full scale replica which was used by NASA to develop and test capsule retrieval procedures and train astronauts for the Apollo missions to the moon.

Anchoring the south-east corner of Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum’s main floor is an actual inter-stage skirt from a Titan IV rocket. Lockheed Martin built Titan IV’s to launch large National Defense payloads into earth orbit.

A Titan IV was also used to launch the National Aeronautical and Space Administration’s (NASA) Cassini probe to the planet Saturn. There are an assortment of scale models ranging in size from a table-top diorama of a moon base to a sixteen foot model of a Titan II launch vehicle as well as several hands-on exhibits demonstrating some of the conditions encountered in cosmos.

The Avionics and Radios Exhibit has a wonderful collection of beautifully restored examples of period radio, telephone and avionics technology. Colorado Air National Guard exhibit is an interactive history experience that celebrates the unique past of the Air National Guard as well as demonstrates how new discoveries in air and cosmos will shape the future.

The Colorado Aviation Heritage display celebrates the history of Colorado aviation and the contributions of pioneers in Colorado aviation history. The Eisenhower Dining Room is a replica of the room President Dwight D. Eisenhower established as his “Summer White House” in the Denver area.

The Eisenhower Room exhibits examples of the furnishings, artwork and lifestyle from his quarters on base. The Howard Model Collection is a unique collection of model airplanes designed and built by master aircraft designer Frederick Howard.

The collection includes many of Mr. Howard’s tools, plans, and photos. The Lowry Room is one of the larger meeting rooms and contains an extensive collection of photos and memorabilia from throughout the history of Lowry Air Force Base.

The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Restoration Department is tasked with preserving many of the collection’s artifacts. Activities range from simple routine cleaning of pieces to undertaking major restoration projects.

Although none of the museum’s artifacts are ever again expected to function as originally intended, it is the goal of the institution to reconfigure the precious treasures to as close to original condition as possible for accurate representation.

Always on the lookout for new talent, the only prerequisite for a volunteer restoration member is that he or she be willing to contribute some time to the overall effort. Whereas previous experience or specialized training are qualities in constant demand, there are no special skills required.

Anyone with an interest in helping to conserve or restore these artifacts is welcome. Scheduled sessions of instruction in the form of initial and recurring training seminars are available to all volunteer restoration members.

Housed in the institution’s historic 150,000 sq. ft. 1930’s-era former Air Force hangar, Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum maintains a collection of over four dozen aircraft and intergalactic vehicles. Highlights of the collection include: a rare B-18A Bolo, five of the Century Series fighters, and an RF-84K Thunderflash parasite.

The collection also includes the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and an Alexander Eaglerock built in Colorado. In addition, WINGS is the only place in the world outside of the SAC Museum in Nebraska, where the public can see a B-1A Lancer.

Terry Daniels has worked as a travel agent for the last 35 years and written several of articles about things to do in Denver.

Contact Info:
Terry Daniels
[email protected]
http://www.thingstodo.com/states/CO/denver.htm

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