Preserving Alaska's Aviation History.

• Author: ROWLEY, LEANNE S.
• Position: Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum has a new board and a new direction.

We rely on air transportation in Alaska, and we always have. Whether bringing in food and supplies, transporting us to warmer climates during the cold winter months, or protecting our borders, aircraft and their pilots have long shaped the state we call home.

Since July 4, 1913, when James and Lily Martin flew their Martin Tractor to Alaska, airplanes have been a part of our history. It is the goal of the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum to protect and celebrate that history.

Since 1967, efforts have been made to preserve Alaska's aviation heritage. In 1977, Ted Spencer, the founder and current executive director of the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, succeeded in forming a non-profit organization dedicated to historical aviation issues in Alaska. This group, the Alaskan Historical Aircraft Society, was successful in surveying wreckage sites, obtaining national historical status for two structures, influencing state and, federal development of downed aircraft policies, and raising the public awareness of Alaska's aviation history.

Despite numerous attempts and failures to obtain sufficient funding for their program from local government sources, the society succeeded in securing its present site on Lake Hood in 1986 using private donations. Additional private donations, loans and grants from the State of Alaska and Municipality of Anchorage allowed the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum to open its doors to the public in July of 1988. However, keeping those doors open has proven to be a struggle.

This winter was the first in 11 years when the museum was not able to welcome visitors on a regular schedule. While it has been open during special occasions, for example during the start of the Iditarod, and has been available to rent for private functions, the museum has lacked sufficient funds to maintain regular open hours. Spencer estimates a current annual budget of $325,000, and visitor admission fees cannot cover expenses.

For Ted Spencer, the battle to keep the museum open has been personally demanding. "Alaska's aviation pioneers," Spencer says, "defined mining, trapping and community development." He wants them to be acknowledged and remembered for their sometimes heroic and always enduring efforts. He is proud of the extensive collection of World War II and other historical aircraft (25 total) housed at the museum. There are also hundreds of historical photographs and...