We left Lincoln City and headed inland to McMinnville, Oregon. We love to stay at the Olde Stone Village RV Park. The park is right net to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. There is a path from the park through the wheat field to the museum. You can walk over or if you call them, they will send a cart to pick you up at your RV site.The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is an aviation museum which displays a number of military and civilian aircraft and spacecraft, most notably, the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose". The museum is located in McMinnville, Oregon, across the street from the headquarters of Evergreen International Aviation. An IMAX theater opened in 2007, and a second exhibit hall focusing on the Titan II ICBM and space technology opened in 2008.
First envisioned by Capt. Michael King Smith, son of Evergreen International Aviation founder Delford Smith, the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is the realization of his dream. The museum began with a small collection of vintage aircraft in a hanger at headquarters and was called Evergreen Museum. In March 1990, the Disney Corporation, which owned the Spruce Goose, announced that it was closing its exhibit located in Long Beach, California. The Aeroclub of Southern California was notified and they immediately began the search for a new home for the Spruce Goose. In 1992, the Evergreen Museum won the bid with a proposal to build a museum around the aircraft and feature it as a central exhibit.
When the Spruce Goose was in Long Beach, parked in a building next to the ship, The Queen Mary, I was fortunate to see the aircraft. Have to say, the display was quite impressive, as the Spruce Goose was lit up under a black ceiling. It really stood out and was something to see! (See photo below!)In August 1992, the disassembly of the aircraft began. The plane was disassembled and sent by ship up the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River and Willamette River to Dayton, Ore. where it was transferred to trucks and driven to Evergreen International Aviation. It arrived in February 1993.
For the next eight years, the plane went through detailed restoration. Volunteers removed all the paint, replaced worn parts and repainted the entire aircraft, among many other tasks.
In September 2000, the main aircraft assemblies were complete. The fuselage, wings and tail were transported across the highway and into the new museum building, still under construction. For the next year, crews spent their time assembling the wings and tail to the fuselage. These were completed in time for the museum's opening on June 6, 2001. The control surfaces (flaps, ailerons, rudder, and elevators) were assembled later. The last piece was put into place on December 7, 2001.
The name of the museum has evolved: Initially known as the Evergreen Museum, it changed in 1994 to the Evergreen AirVenture Museum. In 1997, the facility was renamed the Captain Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Center in memory of Captain Smith, who has lost his life in an automobile accident in March 1995.
A key component of the museum are the many volunteers that work there. Many are former aviators who flew the planes on display. Their detailed descriptions and real life commentary help bring the planes and their days of flight back to life.
As of June 2008, two exhibit centers were open to the public. The primary structure is the aviation center with the Spruce Goose as centerpiece. The space flight center holds a Titan II missile as its centerpiece, along with the SR-71 Blackbird. The Titan II sits upright in a specially constructed display extending two stories below the floor, silo fashion. The exhibit includes a re-created missile control room furnished with furniture and equipment donated from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Attempts to obtain a retired Space Shuttle were unsuccessful.
Also on the grounds is a 71,350 square foot water park, which opened on June 6, 2011.
Also on the grounds of the museum is a 747 that is parked out front. There are plans in the works to turn this aircraft into a Hostel. There is a 747 parked in Sweden at the Arlanda Airport that has already been turned into a hostel there. It offers about 29 rooms with single, two and three bed private rooms or two and four bed dormitories. All together, the hostel offers 61 beds; the most luxurious is to be found on the planes upper deck which boasts an exclusive Cockpit suite with private shower and toilet.
Each room has a flat screen TV. There is also access to wireless internet. On the main level there are five modern bathroom and toilet facilities. It also offers food and beverages along with microwave ovens for those who may bring their own food.
I have already slept on a 747 so this is not something that is on my bucket list!!!
See fun facts about the Spruce Goose below..
Until later, Candy and Johnny
