Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation

The Siouxland Historical Aviation Association was formed in Spring 1990 with the goal of establishing an aviation museum.{{cite news |last1=Schossow |first1=Rebecca |title=Aviation History Saved |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/337081264 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=24 March 1991 |page=F15}}{{efn|1=The association was the result of the combination of two groups: one from a local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter led by Maurice Topf and the other a members of the 185th Tactical Fighter Group.{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Jerry L. |title=Sioux City Aircraft Museum Almost Ready for Take-Off |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/337329116 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=18 August 1992 |page=A3}}}} The group received approval from the airport to build a museum on {{convert|20|acre|km2|abbr=on}} of property at the northwest corner of the airport in 1993.{{cite news |last1=Zahren |first1=Bill |title=Sioux Gateway Finds Site for Air Museum |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/337517299 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=30 January 1993 |page=A3}}{{cite news |last1=Zahren |first1=Bill |title=Aviation Group Opens Throttle on Air Museum |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/337334282 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=14 March 1993 |pages=E20, E22}} In 1996, it began lobbying the city to allow the organization to restore a former terminal building that was planned for demolition.{{cite news |last1=Dreeszen |first1=Dave |title=Flight Plan |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336509815 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=12 May 1996 |page=1}} The World's Biggest Mini Air Museum opened 1 June 1996 in a complex of six former Air National Guard buildings.{{cite news |title=Air Museum Takes Off |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336346413 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=11 July 1996 |page=A3}}{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Terry |title=Siouxland Air Museum Filled with Flying History |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336936883 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=21 March 1999 |page=H4}} However, in January 2002, the then Mid America Air Museum was informed that the buildings it occupied would have to be demolished for a ramp expansion to accommodate aerial refueling aircraft for the 185th Air Refueling Wing.{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Terry |title=Mid America Air Museum Packs Up Displays, Artifacts |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336509987 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=6 January 2002 |pages=A4–A5}} It then moved to a temporary location in downtown Sioux City.{{cite news |title=Air Museum Launches Fund Drive for New Structure |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336327635 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=17 May 2002 |page=A4}}

The museum launched a capital campaign for a new {{convert|62,500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} building in May 2002 and changed its name to Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation.{{cite news |last1=Zerschling |first1=Lynn |title=Air Museum Launches $2.2 Million Fundraising Campaign |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336367562 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=23 March 2003 |page=G9}} Just under two years later, it had raised half of the necessary funding.{{cite news |last1=Hytrek |first1=Nick |title=Mid America Transportation and Aviation Museum Halfway Toward Fund Goal |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/336304799 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=21 March 2004 |page=G7}} The museum changed its name to the Warner Museum of Aviation and Transportation after receiving a donation from Jim Warner of the Warner Group in 2007 that made up the difference.{{cite news |last1=Quinlan |first1=John |title=Warner Helps Build Dream for Aviation Museum |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/337622976 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=29 September 2007 |pages=A1, A3}} It broke ground on a new {{convert|30,000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} building at the Sioux Gateway Airport in April 2009.{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Meagan |title=Museum to Get a New Home |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/335772003 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=12 April 2009 |page=A3}}{{cite news |last1=Butz |first1=Dolly |title=Air Museum Tells Siouxland's Story of Flight |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/visitors-guide/air-museum-tells-siouxlands-story-of-flight/article_524940ca-16eb-5fb2-ad98-6f5dc5412a73.html |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=31 May 2013}} Shortly thereafter, the museum received a Boeing 727 from FedEx.{{cite news |title=FedEx Plane Due at Museum Next Week |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/335793224 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=6 May 2009 |page=A8}} The museum opened to the public on 5 March 2010.{{cite news |title=Taking Flight |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/436731797 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=6 March 2010 |page=A1}} By the end of September, it had changed its name back to Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation.{{cite news |title=Model A Cars to Come to Museum Saturday |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/436744757 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=16 September 2010 |page=A4}}

Construction on a new memorial to United Airlines Flight 232 began in May 2014.{{cite news |last1=Hayworth |first1=Bret |title=New Flight 232 Exhibit to Showcase Siouxland Response |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/a1/new-flight-exhibit-to-showcase-siouxland-response/article_83d95892-9f1f-57ad-a02f-882b96d39a5e.html |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=8 May 2014}} Two months later, the museum held a three day event on the 25th anniversary of the crash.{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Conrad |title=3 Days of Remembering Flight 232 |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/512006035 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=13 July 2014 |page=I4}}{{cite web |title=Flight 232 - 25th |url=http://www.midamericaairmuseum.org/flight-232---25th.html |website=Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation |access-date=30 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503073954/http://www.midamericaairmuseum.org/flight-232---25th.html |archive-date=3 May 2014}} Three years later, the museum acquired a twelfth scale model of a DC-10 for its Flight 232 exhibit.{{cite news |last1=Gottburg |first1=Woody |title=Mid American Air Museum Adds Model of Flight 232 Plane |url=http://www.radioiowa.com/2017/03/25/mid-american-air-museum-adds-model-of-flight-232-plane |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=KSCJ |date=25 March 2017}}

In 2022, the museum received a grant to turn the interior of its Boeing 727 into a STEM learning center.{{cite news |last1=Yamada |first1=Caitlin |title=Sioux City Air Museum Created a STEM Learning Space in Plane Exhibit |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/sioux-city-air-museum-created-a-stem-learning-space-in-plane-exhibit/article_df2bd685-8a9a-51a7-aa2a-d82f4b12ed86.html |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=4 May 2022}}

An exhibit about United Airlines Flight 232 includes a model of a DC-10, the damaged pilot's seat and a map of the aircraft's flight path.{{cite news |last1=Horlyk |first1=Earl |title=Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation Preserves 'Moving' History |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/siouxland_life/mid-america-museum-of-aviation-transportation-preserves-moving-history/article_b03c7e60-d52f-5cac-976d-e2868b50eb9e.html |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=4 January 2018}} Outside there is a memorial to the flight at the initial impact site.{{cite news |last1=Giddings |first1=Aaron |title=The Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation – SUX It Does Not |url=http://www.airlinereporter.com/2017/12/mid-america-museum-aviation-transportation-sux-not |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Airline Reporter |date=13 December 2017}}

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• Armstrong Whitworth Argosy E.1{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Armstrong Whitworth Argosy E.1, s/n XR143 RAF, c/n 6798, c/r G-BFVT |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=17831 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=30 December 2023}}
• Boeing 727-277{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Boeing 727-277, c/n 22068, c/r N246FE |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=333138 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=30 December 2023}}
• Fairchild C-123K Provider{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Chase C-123K Provider, s/n 54-0695 USAF, c/n 20144, c/r N8190B |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=11237 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=30 December 2023}}
• Grumman EA-6A Intruder{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Grumman EA-6A Intruder, s/n 156984 USN |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=74942 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=30 December 2023}}

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The museum holds STEM programs for children.{{cite news |last1=Butz |first1=Dolly A. |title=Like a Real Airplane |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/848069344 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=12 June 2022 |page=D1}}

• National Museum of Transportation

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.midamericaairmuseum.org}}

Category:Aerospace museums in Iowa

Category:Museums in Woodbury County, Iowa