About the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
The Minnesota Air Guard Museum is operated by the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, Inc. Our foundation is a private educational organization chartered as a non-profit organization under the statutes of the State of Minnesota. Our programs are funded by tour and event revenue, donations, memberships, and grants. We are not affiliated with the Minnesota Air National Guard or any other public entity.
It is located on the active Minnesota Air National Guard Base at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Minnesota Air Guard Museum is an authorized USAF Air Park of the 133rd Airlift Wing.
The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum Airpark is OPEN for the season Monday through Saturday, 9 am. to 2 pm.
The Beginning
Following approval by the 934th TAG (the base host) in 1983, work began establishing the Museum, starting in old alert hangars that once housed Northrop F-89 Scorpions. The formal dedication was held in the summer of 1984 when Eva Miller, widow of Minnesota Air Guard founder Ray S. Miller, cut the ribbon. The event was part of a base open house that drew about 30,000 visitors.
Established in 1921, Minnesota’s Air National Guard enjoys a unique place in history as the nation's first federally recognized air guard unit. From those historical roots, the unit became the 133rd Tactical Airlift Wing (Minneapolis-St. Paul) and the 148th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Duluth). Its legacy of accomplishment mirrors Minnesota’s historical leadership in civil, commercial, aero-medical, and aerospace technology and innovation.
The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum is home to one of the largest displays of military aircraft in the five-state area. The 21 aircraft displayed in our airpark include fighters, cargo planes, helicopters, and utility aircraft used by the US military from pre-WWII to the present day. In the hangars are displays of ejections seats, flight simulators, jet and piston engines, plus weaponry from WWI to the present day. Also on display are ancillary artifacts, historical documents, photographs, manuscripts, and books are also on display. There are also Doolittle and Tuskegee Airmen exhibits.
Volunteers have played a key role in aircraft restoration, tours, and seminars benefiting students, citizens, and organizations from the multi-state region.
THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION
Preserve the heritage and traditions of the Minnesota Air National Guard;
Establish, maintain, and operate a museum and library;
Promote and encourage research into the history, traditions, and benefits of a strong militia program for Minnesota and the nation;
Take custody, restore, catalog, and validate historical objects and artifacts, whether acquired by gift, purchase, or otherwise from individuals, the Minnesota National Guard and the Air National Guard, or the United States Air Force;
Foster and promote public knowledge and interest in local military history as part of the continuing militia history.
Top row: R.A. McDonald, C.W. Holman, Glen Sodin, Jack Anderson, Elmer Hinck.
Second row: C.W. Hinck, Harry Proctor, Walter Halgren, Wilbur Larrabee, W.A. Kidder, Lysle Thro, Charles Hardin, Phoebe Fairgrave.
Third row: Walter Bullock, M.A. Northrup, Vernon Omlie, Harold Peterson, Joe Westover.
Forth row: Ray Miller, Merrel Riddeck, Homer Cole, Bill Broderick and John Malone.
This mission helps strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) and career education for students and teachers while learning about the innovation and achievements of people and companies, both yesterday and today. Through the proposed new Minnesota Air and Space Center to be built on the Fort Snelling Upper Post, the Foundation will:
Commemorate: Honor those who serve & build
Educate: Learn from the past & prepare for the future
Innovate: Showcase people & ideas at work
Among the members of the 109th FIS following WWII were two members, Ken Dahlberg, WWII “Triple Ace” and prominent Twin Cities businessman who founded Dahlberg Electronics, a company that supplies hearing apparatus to the hearing-impaired, and Donald “Deke” Slayton, one of the original “Mercury Seven” in the first astronaut program. And, of course, General Ray S. Miller, the “Father of the Minnesota Air National Guard.” In addition, several members of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame are former members of the MNANG.
GuideStar information about Minnesota Air National Guard Historial Foundation, Inc.
