Welcome to AvScholars’ Museums Channel, your guide to museums that promote aviation, air and space, aircrafts, science and industry, and space exploration. Museums are educational, informative, and entertaining places to visit. They have the ability to inspire and amaze us. Museum collections and exhibits invite us to become part of our history, while at the same time help us to better understand our future.

For children and their families (i.e. parents and grandparents), museums provide a perfect opportunity to learn together and share memorable experiences. If you are a child, a parent, a student, an educator, a historian, an aviation enthusiast or you simply enjoy museums, this channel is for you.


Types of Museums.
There are various types of museums that suits many interests and backgrounds such as art, music, history, cultural, recreational, science and technology, and special interests (i.e. aviation, baseball, dollhouses, gems, etc.). AvScholars will focus on museums that relate to aviation/aerospace, air & space, aircrafts, military, science and industry, and technology. Collectively, all museums serve to inform, educate, and inspire us.

My AvScholars' Museum Directory showcases the following types of museums:
•	Aviation Museums Aviation museums collect and preserve aircrafts, artifacts, historical documents, photos and footage related to the history of aviation. Besides the collection of aircrafts, they have numerous exhibits focusing on aviation pioneers from the Wright Brothers, Wiley Post to Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman along with others. There are exhibits also honoring the patriotic service of veterans that fought for their country.
•	Air and Space Museums Air and Space museums collect and preserve historic air and space-crafts. These facilities are large enough to accommodate their increasing collections of air and spacecrafts, equipment, various artifacts and memorabilia, historical documents, photographs, and films.
•	Aircraft Museums Aircraft museums collect and preserve rare and fascinating military and civilian aircrafts. Some aircrafts are located inside a large hangar and/or displayed on acres of land to accommodate the collection and sheer size of these aircrafts such as jet fighters, large bombers and transports, and more.
•	Science and Industry Museums Science and Industry museums explain how things work. We can see working models of inventions and understand where the latest technology comes from and where it's going. Some of these museums even invite you to test out scientific laws: push a button here, pull a lever there, and see for yourself how gravity works. Turn a crank and make your own electricity. Watch how an engine works. Step inside a spaceship. Look at the astronauts' spacesuits and imagine what it's like to walk on the moon or float in space. These museums may have an aviation exhibits and various aircraft on display.
•	Military Museums Military museums are dedicated to preserving and memorializing the history, traditions, and technological significance of their respective branch through displays, exhibits, photos, historical papers and footage from various wars, and artifacts which include uniforms, weapons, artillery pieces, military aircrafts, and more.
•	Planetariums Planetariums are also considered museums. They allow us to learn about constellations and legends. Planetariums bring the mysteries of the skies, stars, space, and other planets to life. Inside planetariums, children can see the entire night sky in all of its glory. They often use telescopes to view the rings of Saturn, and they can step on scales to learn what they would weigh on the moon or on Mars.

What will you find at a museum.
Museums host a variety of fun and educational programs for everyone such as:
• Lectures
• Performances
• Presentations
• Workshops for teachers, students, and children
• Learning Aides for the Classroom
• Contests
• Guest Speakers
• Special Exhibitions, Events, and Programs
• Guided Tours
• Hands-on activities for all ages
• And more

Planning Your Visit. If you are planning a trip to the museum, you should visit the museum’s web site or call for the following information:
•	Hours and Fees. Inquire about their admission fees, hours, and best times for visits. Ask what days of the week and what hours are the least crowded. Some museums have free admission, while others ask for a small donation. Some museums have certain days that are free or have discounts for families, senior citizens, students, and children.
•	Facilities and Services. Inquire about their facilities and services such as restaurants, education programs, gift shops, guided tours, picnic area, library, theater/lecture hall, volunteer program, wheelchair access, and accommodations for visitors with special needs, including parking, entrances, and access to exhibit areas.
•	Special Exhibits, Events, or Programs. Inquire about any upcoming special exhibits, traveling exhibits, events, programs, and presentations by guest speakers. You should also check the newspapers, your local library, or bookstores for special exhibitions, events, or programs that may appeal to children. Libraries and bookstores often have books and free pamphlets that provide listings and descriptions of family activities that include regional museums.
•	Direction, Parking, Transportation. Inquire about parking arrangements and fee, transportation to and from the parking lot, and directions for driving to the museum or using public transportation.

During Your Visit.
The Information Desk is a good "first stop" once you're at the museum. There you'll find floor plans with the location of exhibits, restaurants, restrooms, gift shops, elevators, wheelchair ramps, exits, as well as places to sit. You might also ask about self-guided children's and family tour brochures, workshops, and planned events.


Online (Virtual) Museums.
Visit a museum without leaving your home. Virtual museums exist on the Internet in which they attempt to capture the look and feel of being inside a real museum. They allow visitors to click on a certain spot to move to a different area of the museum. Many museums maintain virtual web sites containing selected images from their exhibits and collections along with descriptive information. Through Virtual museums, children and their families can virtually travel the world exploring and learning together.


Search the Museum Directory.
If you're looking for a museum, register and search My AvScholars’ Museum Directory. The museum directory allows you to quickly and easily locate a museum near you.