A Hidden Gem in McMinnville

          Today we took a day trip to the little town of McMinnville, OR. It is near Salem and made for a  scenic drive. Leaving the coastal shores you cross the mountain range and enter wine and farm country. Vineyards and fields as far as the eye can see. Then, smack dab in the middle of all this is the Evergreen Museum and Water Park. This modern complex houses impressive Aviation and Space museums along with an IMAX theater and a large indoor water park. They have golf carts that are used by the staff and to help folks navigate the complex. I need to get one like the one pictured above!!

     The complex is divided into a Space Museum and an Aviation Museum. The Space museum is well played out and a major part of the exhibit is a large timeline display detailing significant events in man's quest for space travel. Several rockets and spacecraft are on display to include a V-1 and V-2, a Titan II, a Gemini and Apollo space capsule, a Lunar Lander and the Lunar Rover. There are an impressive display of space artifacts from astronaut food to equipment and space suits. What was interesting to me was many of the artifacts on display were on loan from the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, KS (a place I've been to many times when I lived in Wichita). Who knew that their stuff would be out here on display!?! Above is an SR-71 showing some of the payloads that it carried (most of which were classified). At the east end of the gallery there are a number of helicopters on display. Just some of them are pictured below.

     We next ventured over to the Aviation Museum. Here they have an impressive number of restored aircraft from the earliest days of aviation to the latest. In fact, on the roof of the museum is a full sized 747 with Museum markings. Outside, circling the museum are a number of aircraft on static display. But inside is the museum's prize possession. In fact, I was told that the museum was built specifically to house this piece. It is designated the Hughes Flying Boat HK-1. It is also known by its more common title: the Spruce Goose.

     To say this aircraft is massive is an understatement! We couldn't even get it all in the picture! And look how many aircraft sit in the shadow of just one wing.

     Visitors enter the cargo bay through the platform as shown in the above photo. There they have walled off the bay with plexiglass but you can still see the support structure. For an extra fee, you can take a more extensive tour and get to go up to the flight deck.

The view of the hold looking aft

     I expected a small collection of old aircraft and some space artifacts on loan from the Smithsonian in a museum that would take a couple hours maximum to tour. Who knew there was this fine and extensive a collection of Air and Space craft in the middle of Oregon???  I could have spent DAYS going through the exhibits, but I didn't have that kind of time. If you have any interest in aviation or space travel, I highly recommend this complex. For more detailed information check it out by clicking here.

     After leaving McMinnville, we decided to head to Salem and get some shopping done. We set the GPS and took off. After a short while we saw signs that led us to think that there was a ferryboat up ahead. Since we were in the middle of Oregon we were confused. Well sure enough, we rounded the corner and the only way to cross the river was by taking the ferry. It only cost a couple of dollars and we would have spent that in gas trying to find another way around. Besides, how can you pass this up? We boarded and soon continued on our way. All in all we had a great time touring and really enjoyed the day. Guess that's why we retired to this lifestyle huh ?!?