Educational Director, Larry Wood, Chronicles the Museum’s History

Nestled in McMinnville, Oregon, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is a living testament to both aviation advancement and human achievement. The museum currently owns 105 aircraft, as well as extensive artifact, research, and archive collections.

Over 300 dedicated volunteers share not only the aircrafts’ educational background, but also a wealth of personal aviation stories and experiences with visiting crowds. In addition, the museum supports its own volunteer-staffed restoration shop that has accomplished such projects as the incredible ‘Spruce Goose’ restoration now proudly displayed at the museum.

The Flying Boat, known around the world as the ‘Spruce Goose,’ was the impassioned brainchild of Howard Hughes. After its maiden flight on November 2, 1947, Hughes ordered the aircraft into hibernation where it sat, flight ready, for over 33 years.

After his death, the Aero Club received the aircraft by donation and moved the ‘Spruce Goose’ to Long Beach, California. Finally, in 1990, the Aero Club voted to award the Hughes Flying Boat to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Floating 1,055 miles over 138 days, the Spruce Goose arrived at the museum on February 27th, 1993.

Today, the museum stands as a lasting tribute to its visionary, Captain Michael King Smith, a lifelong aviation enthusiast. Together with his father, Evergreen International Aviation founder Delford M. Smith, Smith pursued his vision while serving as an F-15 pilot in the Oregon Air National Guard.

Tragically, Captain Michael King Smith was killed in an automobile accident in 1995. The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is the fulfillment of Smith’s unquenchable dream to create a museum both honoring the patriotic service of veterans and providing invaluable educational enrichment to keep aviation’s history alive. 

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