Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - A Part of Our History

Monday, July 14, 2014

Delve into the past and learn about Canadian military aviation history at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Located in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario right at Hamilton International Airport, the museum has as its mandate the goal of acquiring, documenting, preserving and maintaining a complete collection of aircraft that were flown by Canadians and the Canadian military services from the beginning of World War II to the present. This collection also includes other related aviation artifacts and memorabilia of historic importance to this time period, such as air plane models, helmets and other gear.

My kids and I had a chance to explore the museum and we ended up bringing a couple of friends along with us. The kids were particularly surprised to find out exactly how heavy these old helmets were. Yikes!

Within the museum you can roam through a gallery containing other various memorabilia, scene replicas and displays. This is an excellent place for students who need to research more about D-Day, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, or the Ninety-Nines. Or step into the Rolls-Royce Theatre and watch James Cagney in "Captains of the Clouds." In technicolor, of course.

Next, you can make your way into the airplane hangar where you will find a myriad of historic aircraft. The word 'impressive' seems inadequate to describe the sight. We're talking Beechcraft Musketeers, Boeing Stearmans, Westland Lysanders and Avro Lancasters.

Hawker Hurricane Mark XIIB Fighter-Bomber

Avro Lancaster Mk. K Vintage Bomber

There are select aircraft that you can actually board by climbing into the cockpit. This was a really neat experience for the kids.

They even have an old fire engine from 1926 that is still in operating condition. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

1926 Bickle Fire Engine

Along the way, the kids can pose behind some fun photo stands. This picture was my favourite one of all.

You can also head up to the observation deck to watch aircraft at the nearby airport or catch a better view of additional historical warplanes outdoors. Since these are located in a restricted area, you will need to wait for an attendant to escort you as you check these aircraft up close.

On your way down from the deck, stop by the cafe for bite to eat and enjoy the view. The fries were delicious!

Admission to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum ranges from $8 for youth ages 6-12 to $12 for adults ages 18-64. Children age 5 and under receive free admission. If you're interested in bringing the family, I have a family pass for four to give away. Simply complete the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a package from Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum that included complimentary admission. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.