Explore every era of flight from the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle
The Stafford Air & Space Museum is named for legendary Oklahoma test pilot and astronaut General Thomas P. Stafford and is in his hometown of Weatherford. Starting with a simple exhibit case in the Stafford Regional Airport terminal, the museum has grown to more than 63,000 sq. ft. and has quickly developed national recognition as being one of the finest air and space museums in the country.
This is demonstrated by the fact that the Smithsonian Institution selected the Stafford Museum as one of their official “Affiliate” museums in the central Unites States and is one of only three air and space museums in the nation to receive the coveted “5-Star” rating by both TripAdvisor and Google as one of the most outstanding aerospace museums in the nation
From Pioneers to Space Explorers
Tracing the evolution of flight and space exploration, the Stafford Museum sits along I-40 and the fabled Route 66 and has become a great catalyst for the development of travel and tourism in Western Oklahoma, and the I-40 corridor. The museum was recently chosen by the U.S. Air Force as the site of one of the only public locations in the world to be allowed to display an actual top-secret F-117 Stealth Fighter aircraft, which is currently under restoration.
Educational Excellence
A 12,000 square foot STEM-based interactive children’s wing, and event center is currently in the construction stages. When completed, the Stafford Museum will grow to over 72,000 sq. ft. and be the largest and highest attended museum in the western half of Oklahoma.
Its multi-million-dollar financial impact on the state can only be overshadowed by the incredible educational resource the facility brings to schools, colleges, and universities throughout the state.
Unparalleled Collections
The museum houses one of the finest aerospace and space flight collections in the central United States. The museum highlights the many daring explorers that made a profound impact in the advancement of aerospace technology. The museum has many artifacts on display, educating the public on our nation’s rich aviation and spaceflight history. It is a premier facility that has continually gained local and national recognition.
Iconic Outdoor Displays
The museum’s outdoor display has become an iconic monument for the region. Situated just outside the museum’s front entrance, the Lockheed F-104 “Starfighter”, points majestically six stories straight up into the sky. The museum also offers a unique venue for business meetings, conferences, receptions, and parties with a modern conference room.
The “Shooting Star Park” playground, located adjacent to the Stafford Air and Space Museum is an exciting addition to our community. The playground has an aerospace theme and is one of the largest playground structures in western Oklahoma.
Unrivaled Exhibits
Exhibits include a ten story Titan-II rocket, the actual flown Gemini 6 spacecraft, Stafford’s actual Gemini 6 and Apollo 10 space suits, interactive Lunar Module simulator, a full-scale replica of the Apollo Command and Service Module, and the Lunar Module. Our extensive aircraft collection includes full-scale, extremely accurate replicas of the Wright Glider and Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, and Bleriot, along with many actual aircraft including an A-10, F-15, F-16, Russian Mig-21, and F-4, F-86, T-33, T-38, and F-104.
The museum also has one of the largest collections of rocket engines including an actual F-1 engine, the world’s largest rocket engine from a Saturn V, and an actual NK-33 Russian rocket engine. The Stafford Museum is the only place in the world where one can see both on display! See an actual Test Orion Capsule Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) and a large model of the International Space Station showing ISS live feed and touch screens.
Educational Enrichment
With a height of over 30-feet, and situated on an elevated area, provides a wonderful view of the aviation activities of the airport, and surrounding area. The area incorporates a large covered canopied area with picnic tables and benches for family get-togethers right next to the playground.
The playground is packed full of STEAM-based experiences and venues that will maintain the attention of children for a long time, creating lifelong memories. For safety, a unique pour-in-place rubber surfacing is placed beneath the playground that makes you feel like you are walking on air. The museum is located along Rt. 66 and is open 360 days a year.
For more Museum information and tips, be sure to Download the Full LGT Museum Guide for FREE
