Heritage Flight Museum Breaks Ground on Expansion
After years of planning and preparation, the Heritage Flight Museum is moving forward on their much-anticipated expansion, adding more space for aviation exhibits, historical artifacts, and maintenance facilities.
Heritage Flight Museum was founded in 1996 by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders and his wife Valerie and has been located at Skagit Regional Airport in Burlington since 2014. This expansion will add a 11,300 square foot hangar building to house a new maintenance facility, as well as two exciting new historical exhibits: The ’68 Experience and the Earthrise Gallery.
The Earthrise Gallery will include the iconic photograph taken by Anders while piloting the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. This acclaimed photo of the Earth and some of the Moon’s surface taken from lunar orbit, has been heralded as one of the most significant images of the 20th century. The gallery will also feature other artifacts and memorabilia from Major General Anders’ storied career.
A groundbreaking event was held March 22nd, with Bill and Valerie Anders making the ceremonial “first dig” to mark this exciting occasion for the museum and the whole community.
The Heritage Flight Museum houses 15 vintage aircraft, several antique military vehicles, a library and many artifacts donated by veterans. Most notably, it is also the only museum north of Olympia that flies its vintage aircraft.
For more information about Heritage Flight Museum, visit www.heritageflight.org