DONATE
The Grissom Air Museum has received stat funding to preserve historic military aircraft, like its World War II era B-17 "Flying Fortress."
Chris Light, CC-BY-SA 3.0The Grissom Air Museum is receiving $150,000 more dollars from the state over the next two years. The money will be used, in part, to restore military planes to their former glory.
The two dozen or so military planes housed at the Grissom Air Museum have countless stories to tell -- of World War II veterans, battles in Vietnam and raids during Desert Storm.
Museum director Jim Price’s job to make sure the older ones don’t fall into disrepair. But that costs money, something he doesn’t have a lot of.
The museum makes some money off admissions, souvenirs and donations…but that only brings in so much.
That’s why Price plans to use the $75,000 dollars lawmakers are giving the museum in each of the next to years to repaint the planes, give them anti-rust treatment, and maintain the museum grounds. All in hopes of making the museum more attractive.
“Just like any history, it can be dry toast, which is what a lot of history books are, or you can be a living history, which is what we’re trying to be,” Price said.
Price says in the next five to 10 years, he’s hoping to raise more money to create videos of veterans who flew in the planes telling their stories that visitors can watch as they tour the facility.
View More Programs
Support WFYI. We can't do it without you.