Do you know where you can learn about America’s airpower and S.D.’s heritage regarding air and space all in one location for free? This is all possible right here in South Dakota at the Air & Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The SD Air and Space Museum is the largest air museum in the Midwest. If you haven’t spent much time visiting museums emphasizing aviation, you might not realize just how impressive a feat it actually is to be the largest in the area. Well, here’s a very brief list of a few of the exhibits you have a chance to see on your visit, just to give you an idea……

Twenty-five aircrafts, 4 different missiles (including a Minuteman II), an F-106 Interactive aircraft cockpit and A B-1B Cockpit and Offensive/Defensive System Operators Simulator, a Missile Procedures Trainer Exhibit, the B-29 Superfortress, the Pride Hangar (at one point one of the largest monolithic structures in the country, now part of the National Registry of Historic Places), …….

….One moment, I need to take a breath, ok….

The SD Aviation Hall of Fame, a feature on the War on Terror unveiled Sept. 11 of this past year, an exhibit on the Berlin Airlift, General Eisenhower’s personal transport, a modified B-25 Bomber (the only one of its kind) and, of course, a gift shop.

The museum is also in the process of planning restoration projects including a Titan I Missile, which resided in underground silos in the prairie areas east of  the Ellsworth Air Force Base in the 1960’s, and a Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, a jet formerly used by the SD Air National Guard.

As you may have gathered, there is quite the impressive array of exhibits. I’d recommend keeping the SD Air and Space Museum on your list of ‘Things-to-do’ during your next visit to the Black Hills area.