Although the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Museum in Delaware, as it exists today inside Hangar 301, opened to the public in 1996, the story behind this extraordinary museum began back in 1944. At the time, a gallon of gas cost 15 cents, and the United States was in the throes of World War II.
The threat of war on American soil led to the government’s decision to advance the Air Force’s involvement in rocket development, and Dover Army Airfield, now known as Dover Air Force Base, was chosen as the location for a secret rocket development program. The 4146 Base Unit chose Hangar 1301 as their workstation, later releasing the hangar to various fighter squadrons throughout the 1950s and 1970s. The hangar sat unused for years and was the last WWII hangar left in the state. Eventually, it was given a chance for a new life in the 1990s when it underwent an extensive restoration program that placed it on the National Register of Historic Places.
The AMC Museum has called Hangar 301 home now for more than 22 years, and it is the only museum in the United States dedicated to airlift and refueling history. The museum boasts a collection of more than 30 aircraft of varying sizes and roles, including the B-17G Flying Fortress and the BT-13 Valiant. Visitors can surround themselves with aviation history while exploring hands-on exhibits that range from touring WWII aircraft alongside a retired Air Force veteran to taking the wheel inside a modern C-5 Galaxy.
The museum is free and open to the public and often hosts many events for school groups, retirees and more. Along with a regular calendar filled with veteran programs and summer camps, the museum is also available for rent for meetings and events, with multiple meeting spaces for groups of up to 515 guests. The AMC Museum offers a full immersion into the world of aviation, and meeting groups have the privilege of surrounding themselves with decades of history as they create new memories they’ll long cherish.
Meeting Spaces
No other museum in America offers visitors the chance to gather and dine in such a historic setting while surrounded by more than 30 aircraft that have been painstakingly restored. Planners can host events and meetings next to the various aircraft in the museum, along with reserving entire spaces for specific purposes indoors and out. The Air Mobility Command Museum features three indoor spaces available for meetings and events, including a theater for up to 42 guests seated, a conference room for up to 30 guests and the hangar for up to 250 guests seated and 515 standing. The exterior of the museum can also be rented to accommodate up to 1,500 guests.
