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Published: December 20th 2018
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Pima Air and Space Museum
Bill was transported in this model plane when he was in the Air National Guard We visited the Pima Air and Space Museum on Friday. It has an extensive collection of planes, housed both inside and out on the grounds. We had hoped to visit the giant Air Force "boneyard" facility, but you now need to get security clearance at least ten days before your visit.
The
Museum is one of the world's largest non-government funded
aerospace museums. and features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres.
"The concept for the Pima Air & Space Museum began in 1966 during the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the United States Air Force. Earlier the commanders of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center the forerunner to today’s 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group recognized that the historic World War II and 1950s era aircraft stored on the base were rapidly disappearing into smelters and that the flames were consuming not just metal, but the aviation heritage of the country. On their own initiative, base officials began to set aside examples of the many types of aircraft stored in MASDC’s yards. These planes were placed along the base’s fence line so that
Arizona State Museum
In the pottery collection the public could see them through the fence. The display quickly became very popular with the local community but viewing the aircraft through the fence was somewhat unsatisfying."
That night, we met friends for a drink at the historic Arizona Inn, and then went to a film at the Loft, a very cool nonprofit art house cinema, nearby.
Saturday was a museum day. We started with the Arizona History Museum, which focuses on more on white settler perspectives. "The museum houses the stories and artifacts of Arizona personalities such as Geronimo and Wyatt Earp, as well as Emperor and Empress Maximilian and Carlota of Mexico. Family-oriented exhibits include a mining tunnel and a hands-on re-creation of 1870s’ Tucson." The exhibits on mining and minerals were most interesting.
We then walked across the U of A campus to the Arizona State Museum, Established in 1893, Arizona State Museum is the oldest and largest anthropological research museum in the Southwest, with expansive collections that are exceptional resources for the study, teaching, and appreciation of the region’s 13,000-year human history. We had a short introduction from a very knowledgeable docent, and then spent a couple hours immersed in the exhibits
and collections.
Next, we drove to the downtown area and stumbled upon the Winterfest, where we watched kids play in snow (that was brought in), ate tacos, people watched, and listened to music.
On our last day, I went for a 20 mile bike ride, and then we looked at some open houses, wondering if we would like to buy a home in this great town! We still haven't made that decision, but we will definitely return to Tucson...
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