Museum of Flying

About Museum of Flying

Aircraft & aviation artifacts on display. Museum exploring Southern California's aviation history through historic aircraft & artifacts. Museum of Flying was established in 1974 and operates as a 22,000 square foot aerospace museum housed in a hangar with a mezzanine in Santa Monica, CA. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 524 visitors.

💬 What Visitors Say

• 💡Start your visit with the Wright Brothers section and progress chronologically through the exhibits to get the full historical narrative of aviation development. This guided approach helps you understand how aviation evolved from the Wright Flyer to modern spacecraft.
• 🕐Visit during daytime hours on weekdays when the museum is basically empty. Multiple reviewers noted they had the space largely to themselves, allowing for a peaceful, unhurried experience without crowds.
• 💬Plan for 30 minutes if you're just browsing or up to 90 minutes for a thorough exploration. The museum is compact at 22,000 sq ft, so you can see everything in under 90 minutes, making it perfect for a quick stop while in Santa Monica.
• 💡Bring young children with confidence—the museum is specifically designed not to be overstimulating, with good spacing between exhibits and a calm, quiet atmosphere. Interactive elements like going inside retired aircraft and the flight simulator keep kids engaged without overwhelming them.
• 💡Don't miss the second-floor section honoring female aviators in aviation history. Reviewers highlighted this as an inspirational and educational highlight that many visitors weren't aware of beforehand.