Nov. 01--BURLINGTON -- The Port of Skagit will be the new home to a museum featuring historic aircraft and space exploration artifacts, as Bellingham's Heritage Flight Museum announced Thursday it will move into a two-bay hangar it bought at the port this spring.
The nonprofit museum was founded in 1996 by Apollo 8 astronaut Maj. Gen. William Anders and his wife, Valerie, and started with two flying aircraft. The collection moved into a temporary, leased hangar at Bellingham International Airport in 2001 and has been developing displays and educational offerings since then, according to a museum news release.
Currently on display are a dozen historic military aircraft, from the vaunted P-51 Mustang World War II fighter to the rare L-13 Grasshopper that can fold into the size of a Jeep -- height not withstanding.
The move follows a long history of the museum looking to expand at Bellingham International Airport without success.
"The people of the community have been fantastic and we regret our need for departure," Heritage Flight Museum executive director Greg Anders said in the release. "We are a small business that cannot survive in an infertile environment. And we are a community asset that has options to be where our value is appreciated by the elected officials and their staff. The Port of Skagit understands the Heritage Flight Museum's ability to be a catalyst and stimulus to a community's economy, and they set the stage for a successful business environment. We must go where we are more likely to thrive."
The new location will be the former hangars of Via Jet at 15053 Crosswind Drive at the Skagit Regional Airport, which will need to be improved for disability access and an expected large numbers of visitors before opening to the public by February, director of programs Kate Simmons said in the release.
Over the last six months, museum leadership also considered relocating to Paine Field in Everett, but Simmons said Skagit's facility, cost, proximity to Bellingham for current volunteers and a positive reception in Burlington swung the decision.
The museum will stay open at its Bellingham location through Nov. 16, then museum staff and volunteers will begin the process of transferring collections.
"We're really excited to have the museum here," said port executive director Patsy Martin. "Their collection includes many pieces of vintage World War II aircraft and other equipment and artifacts that many people in the valley are going to want to come and see."
Simmons said the larger, 20,000-square-foot facility will eventually bring collections and maintenance work under one roof, house a gift shop, continue monthly and annual events and provide corporate and private event space.
Martin said the port's meeting room capacity tops out at 50. She said the cavernous space of the hangars will help fill a pressing need for meeting space in Skagit Valley.
Reporter Mark Stayton: 360-416-2112, mstayton@ skagitpublishing.com, Twitter: @Mark_SVH, Facebook. com/byMarkStayton
Copyright 2013 - Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, Wash.
