THE SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Is one of the largest aviation museums in the Southeast, is dedicated to presenting civilian, military, and experimental aircraft and memorabilia from the earliest history of powered flight.
The 75,000 square foot facility houses over 100 aircraft, as well as engines, models, artifacts, photographs, and paintings. In addition, the Southern Museum of Flight is home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame with over 70 biographical plaques presenting Alabama aviation history through collective biography.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for kids.
Active military & families are $5.
Children 3 and under are $free.
Annual museum family memberships are $100.
Two-year museum family memberships are $150.
Family memberships include reciprocal memberships with hundreds of other museums.
Discounted group rates are available.
Active military & families are $5.
Children 3 and under are $free.
Annual museum family memberships are $100.
Two-year museum family memberships are $150.
Family memberships include reciprocal memberships with hundreds of other museums.
Discounted group rates are available.
SO HOW DID WE TAKE FLIGHT?
With the approach of the centennial celebration of the city of Birmingham in the mid 1960s, a civic committee began working on projects that would tell the story of the first 100 years of the City of Birmingham. Mrs. Mary Alice Beatty, who, with her husband, Donald Beatty had been pioneers in the establishment of the first airline routes and bases in Central and South America, felt that the Aviation History of Birmingham should be included in these projects.
The Committee’s goal was to establish a regional air museum, to be called The Southeastern Museum of Aviation, and Mrs. Beatty was placed in charge of the project with $400 appropriated for expenses. Using the Beatty’s own collection of memorabilia as a basis, in 1966 she established the first displays in six display cases. Samford University offered space for the displays, which, by that time, was called The Birmingham Museum of Aviation. The displays remained at Samford for three years, during which time Mrs. Beatty was the curator. Mrs. Beatty then moved the displays to a location closer to the airport, using the main lobby of the Birmingham Airport Motel, which stood at the location of the present short-term parking deck across the street from the old terminal.
MEET OUR PILOTS OF THE MUSEUM
Dr. Brian Barsanti
Executive Director
Mexia Curtis
Event Manager
Nathaniel Daniel
Maintenance Technician
Daphne Dunn
Chief of Staff / Human Resources
Scott Gilpin
Interim Associate Executive Director
Tosha Hervey
Administrative Assistant
Dr. Randall Law
Curator
Melissa Morgan
Education Coordinator
Charlie Philips
Museum Technician
Brad Touchstone
Exhibit Designer