Building for the Future

Building for the Future

The Capital Development Program

In 2017, the National Museum of World War II Aviation initiated a capital development program to fund a major expansion of its facilities in Colorado Springs. The project was initiated to provide space for new exhibits, and to house the museum’s fast-growing collection of flying World War II aircraft. The program will also include a new research library and will facilitate continued growth of the museum’s highly successful K-12, secondary and post-secondary education programs.

Phase I of the program, which was completed in late 2019, addressed the museum’s immediate need for space through construction of a 40,000 square foot aircraft display hangar.

Phase I—The Kaija Raven Shook Aeronautical Pavilion

Phase II, which is currently under construction, will double the size of the aircraft display hanger to 80,000 square feet, clearing the way for further growth and the establishment of an Airframe and Powerplant School that will provide opportunities for veterans and high school students seeking technical training opportunities in aviation.

Phase III is a long-term project to build an 86,000 square foot facility that will house a world-class exhibit hall, education and events center. The Phase III facility will make it possible for the museum to host traveling exhibits and larger events, creating new revenue sources that will help ensure the museum’s sustainability over time.

Phase III—Aviation Hall

Financial Sustainability

To assess the sustainability of the museum and its overall capital development program, the National Museum of World War II Aviation commissioned Summit Economics, LLC to study the market feasibility and economic impacts of the proposed expansion. The study was completed in late 2016 and was approved by the museum’s Board of Directors at its annual meeting in December of that year. The plan has been updated periodically as more information has become available.

The key findings in the Summit Economics study are as follows:

The existing museum has financially passed the “proof of concept” stage and has achieved breakeven in each of its first five years of operation.
The museum will be fully self-sustaining as it moves through all phases of its capital development program.
The museum is projected to continue to be fully self-sustaining after the capital development program is completed.

Vision Statement

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is a place that that inspires and entertains people as they seek to gain a better understanding of the role that aviation played at a critical turning point in our nation’s history. As the museum continues to grow, it will soon be joined by two other world class-projects currently under development in Colorado Springs—the U.S. Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame and the U.S. Air Force Academy Visitor Center. Together, these uniquely different projects will be jointly marketed to create a magnet for historical research and cultural tourism that will draw visitors from all over the world.

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For Detailed Information on the Capital Development Program

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