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Project

The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation has launched a project to build a new museum outside of the Minnesota Air National Guard Base to improve access to the museum collections of aircraft, artifacts, exhibits and programs for the public at Minnesota Air Guard Museum.

A new museum will replace the existing museum located on the Minnesota Air National Guard Base in a Cold War Alert Hanger.

Visitors will be able visit the new museum without the existing concerns for security. Also, The museum can be open throughout week and have expanded hours.

Aerial Future Layout

Introduction:

The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation operates one of the most unique aviation museums in the nation. The Founda-tion has forged a plan to move its collection to a new site; one that will fulfill its goal of bringing the deep and rich civilian and military aviation history of Minnesota to the public. There is one major hurdle that must be overcome to bring this vision to fruition: The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation must secure the only site that can successfully hold this facility: the Golf Course at Fort Snelling Upper Bluffs.

Mission:

The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, Inc. (MNANG) is a private, philanthropic organization chartered as a nonprofit corporation under statutes of the State of Minnesota on May 14, 1980. The mission of the Foundation is to:

  • Preserve the heritage and traditions of Minnesota’s 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 to Minnesota and the Nation;
  • Take custody, restore, catalogue, and validate historic objects and artifacts whether acquired by gift; purchase, demise, or otherwise from individuals, the Minnesota 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 story.

Location:

The Minnesota Air Guard Museum is currently located on the active National Air Guard Base at Minneapo-lis-St. Paul International Airport.

Collections:

Highlights of the Museum include:

  • The largest collection of aircraft in a five state region (over 27)
  • The most JET aircraft five state region
  • A MiG 15
  • Recently loaned Jenny (to the Minnesota Historical Society History Center)
  • 6,000 artifacts and objects
  • More than 5,000 photographs, slides and videos
  • More than 2,000 books
  • More than 400 Air Force aircraft "Technical Orders"

Current Status:

The MNANG is in the process of try-ing to secure a new parcel of and nearby so that the Museum can be moved. This is a result of increased level of security on the base on which the current Museum is located. Because of this the museum is closed to the general public most days of the year. The Museum’s collection has been open to the public for a total of 46 days since 9/11/01. When the Museum is open the access is extremely limited.

Currently the Air Guard is under the following restrictions:

  • Only the center section and the two north bays of the alert hanger can be used. This has effectively cut square footage in half and forced most of the objects into storage.
  • No structural or permanent changes can be made to the building or bays.
  • Anything we put in the building or bays must be removable if NORAD needs to return to the building on short notice. This has forced most of the archival material and collections into demountable containers which do not allow meet museum standards.
  • Access to the Museum by the volunteer staff who are not current or retired military (which is the majority of the volunteer staff) is limited.
  • Access by public is at the discretion of the base commander. When open, traffic on the base is rerouted and security heightened, putting additional strain on the base personnel.

These actions have effectively shut the Museum down.

The Concept:

The concept is for the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation (MNANG) to relocate their collections off base to a new Museum facility at the Fort Snelling Golf Course - adjacent to the Minneapolis St Paul Airport and Fort Snel-ling Upper Bluffs. The location choice was based on an MNANG needs assessment that outlined the following requirements for a new site.

  • Adjacent to airport with large runway capacity
  • Connection to current Air Guard location to continue use of apron and taxiway for receiving planes
  • Location that allows access by large regional population
  • Connected to mass transit and highway system
  • Adjacent to other destination-type attractions
  • Sufficient size parcel to fit program and physical size of current and future planes on exhibit
  • Connection to Historic Fort Snelling and other cultural destinations
  • The new Museum facility will be anchored by two major components:

    1. The Minnesota Museum of Aviation

      The MN ANG collection will provide the foundation for a professional museum, library/ archive, and restoration facilities for the citizens of Minnesota and the region. The museum will tell the history of aviation in Minnesota and conversely the contributions to aviation by Minnesotan’s in both civilian and military contexts. Included in the Museum would be exhibit space for traveling collections, loaned objects and Minnesota Aviation related events. Major programs in this area of the facility are:

      • Exhibition
      • Education
      • Collections
      • Aircraft Restoration and Replication
      • Archive and Research Library

    2. The Aviation Learning Center

      The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation Board would provide the necessary structure to franchise the very successful Aviation Learning Center at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Major programs in this area of the facility are:

      • NASA Challenger Learning Center
      • Outreach Programs
      • Distance Learning
      • Professional Development
      • Education
      • Conferencing space
      • Auditorium

Aviation Learning Center:

The new Museum and Aviation Learning Center is designed from the ground up to be a professional, accredited aviation museum with a speseum an Aviation Learning Center will:

  • Exhibit aircraft and spacecraft
  • Feature extensive education and exhibition programs for the public
  • Feature special events and visiting aircraft
  • Form strategic partnerships with numerous aviation organizations throughout Minnesota will be developed with the intent to bring their stories to the public
  • The Aviation component will franchise the successful Aviation Learning Center at Seattle’s Museum of Flight
  • Minnesota Museum of Aviation. The Aviation Program focuses on Cirrus Aircraft manufac- tured in Duluth
  • May become catalyst for potential reuse of adjacent historical buildings as charter schools or other related uses.

Timelinie:

Initial components could be opened within 30-40 months of land lease agreement with final pieces of the museum facility completed within 72 months of land lease agreement.

Potential Economic Impact:

  • Anticipated Job Creation
  • 100+ full time jobs
  • 50+ part time jobs
  • As many as 180 registered volunteers actively involved

History tourism is substantial and fast growing sector

  • Visitor participation anticipated to be substantial
  • Will be one of the top aviation museums in the nation
  • 5% - 7% of weekday visitors drop-ins from layovers at the airport
  • 20% - 40% visitors will be vacationers, staying in local lodging, using rental cars, visiting other attractions, and eating in area restaurants