The Chicago metro area is home to a number of air museums where visitors can see old aircraft and spacecraft, learn from interactive exhibits and watch movies dedicated to space travel. With one exception, the museums are open on weekends only and are not-for-profit organizations that preserve and promote the history of military and civilian aircraft.
The Aurora Municipal Airport sits in Sugar Grove, Illinois, just west of Chicago on U.S. Route 30. As of January 2011, the museum has eight aircraft in its collection, some of which visitors can board and sit in the cockpit and pilot's seat. A Huey Helicopter is one of the aircraft that museum guests can tour. Besides aircraft, the museum has a collection of aviation memorabilia collected from contributors. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays.
The Naval Air Station Glenview Museum is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Glenview is east of Arlington Heights. This Naval air station was the only station that housed all branches of the military, the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and the Marines. Visitors can tour the museum on self-guided tours, attend lectures or join guided group tours. One of 46 Challenger Learning Centers is located at this Naval air station.
The Henry Crown Space Center sits inside the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit focuses on spacecraft, from its inception to the potential for space travel in the future. The Henry Crown Space Center has a five-story curved screen theater where it features movies about space. Some of the exhibits are interactive, and visitors can attempt to dock a space craft to the International Space Station in virtual reality. The museum is open daily.
The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook is a few miles south of Naperville. This museum houses a number of early aircraft used in World Wars I and II. The museum actively invites members of the community to volunteer by helping to restore old aircraft to their original condition. Besides displaying old aircraft, the museum conducts educational programs concerning flight, weather conditions and experimental aircraft. The museum is open on Saturdays and by appointment.
