The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum is a museum located in Monroe, Louisiana that preserves and highlights the establishment of the local aviation industry. It exhibits artifacts from World War I to the Afghanistan War, including aircraft and vehicle displays. The museum is named in honor of United States Army Air Force General Claire Lee Chennault.[1]
The museum grew out of a reunion, first held in 1986, of airmen who had trained at Selman Field during World War II.[2]
The Aviation Historical Museum of Louisiana opened to the public on 11 November 2000.[3] By July 2004, the museum's name had changed to the Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana.[4] By February 2007, the museum had plans to build a 7,000sqft (650m2) expansion, but difficulties obtaining funding from the state delayed the project.[5] The expansion was opened in November of that year, increasing the museum's total size to 10,625sqft (987.1m2).[6][4] Following the passage of a bill in the Louisiana State Legislature, the museum's name changed again to Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in August 2008.[7][8] It broke ground on an aircraft restoration building in August 2010.[9]
Following the latter's financial difficulties two years earlier, the museum separated from the Louisiana State Museum system in 2015.[2][10] Chennault's granddaughter, Nell Calloway, became CEO of the museum in 2017.[1]
An aviation park displaying several aircraft is adjacent to the museum.[14] A research library is also present.[15]
Exhibits
A room called Way of a Fighter is dedicated to General Chennault.[16] A memorial to soldiers killed in action and a statue of General Chennault donated by Taiwan are located in front of the museum.[17][18]
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