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Donations to the March Field Air Museum

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The March Field Air Museum is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to promoting an understanding of humanity’s desire for flight & March Field’s pivotal role in the development of aviation.

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Welcome To the March Field Air Museum!

A Memorable Visit

Knowledgeable docents are always on hand as you tour the March Field Air Museum. Your admission fee allows you to experience numerous exhibits located indoors in the Museum’s main hangar structures. While some of the historic aircraft are displayed indoors as well, the vast majority are found outside in our “flight line,” & your admission fee also covers entrance to this area. For a small additional fee, guided tours of the flight line are offered several times each day aboard an electric tram, narrated by a trained docent. Tram tour seats are limited, so be sure to purchase yours early in the day! The menu at left will help you plan your visit to the museum.

Today’s March Field Air Museum began in 1979, when the first display of artefacts was opened to the public at then-March Air Force Base. That same year, the non-profit March Air Museum Foundation was established to provide a means for channelling private support to the museum, which at the time was recognized as an official U.S. Air Force museum. In 1993 the museum moved to its current site alongside Interstate Highway 215.

In 1996, as the U.S. realigned its military bases & March became an Air Reserve Base, responsibility for ownership, management & operation of the museum was turned over to the March Field Museum Foundation. In the years since, the museum has added buildings, collections, & staff members, & worked hard to appeal to a diverse audience of families, veterans, & military/aviation enthusiasts.

The March Field Air Museum today displays one of the largest collections of military aircraft on the West Coast. Staffed by some 100 volunteers & 12 full & part time employees, the museum strives to be a positive participant in its community. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the March Field Air Museum is proud to be ranked as the #1 Attraction in Riverside by TripAdvisor.

March Field Air Museum: A Quick History

On December 19, 1979, Lt. General James P. Mullins, 15th Air Force Commander, delivered an address at the dedication ceremony for the new March Air Force Base Museum. The new museum was initially housed in the 1930 Base theatre, located just north of the Base’s parade ground.

The museum’s 2,000 square foot main exhibit area was filled with photographs, models & paintings depicting military aviation & the history of March Air Force Base (AFB) from its founding in 1918. An aircraft park, to feature aircraft that once flew from March, was established near the main gate at Cactus & Graham. “It’s important to capture the essence of our past & to portray & illustrate the history of March Field.” said Major Brian Daly, the museum’s first director.

In 1980 three important museum events occurred:

1) The March Field Museum was officially recognized as an Air Force Facility in March.

2) The non-profit March Field Museum Foundation was established in May.

3) in November, the outdoor aircraft park (featuring three aircraft) was opened to the public.

The new museum grew by leaps & bounds, so much so that within a year the number of artefacts doubled & filled the theatre building to capacity. On February 20, 1981, the March Field Museum’s first exhibit facility opened its doors to the public in Building 420–the former commissary. The 26,000 square foot building housed offices & smaller collections, plus two or three smaller aircraft. Most of the approximately 50 airplanes were located on a parking ramp on the March AFB flight line.

The March Field Museum remained in the commissary building until 1993, when the museum moved to its current location on the west side of the runway. That same year, March AFB was selected for “realignment. ” In 1996, March AFB was officially re-designated March Air Reserve Base (ARB) following the conclusion of the realignment process. Operation of the museum was turned over to the non-profit March Field Museum Foundation, d.b.a the March Field Museum. In May 1999, the museum’s official name was changed to the March Field Air Museum to better reflect its broader military aviation focus.

The museum today operates as a public benefit, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It relies on donations, grant funding, & earned income to continue serving the public, & does not receive ongoing funding from any government entities. After a rigorous process, March Field Air Museum received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2011. The museum joined an elite group of only 3% of American museums that are accredited. Also in 2011, the museum opened a new 12,000 square foot addition housing educational programs & the museum library, & creating room for private rental events.

In 2016 & 2017, as the Centennial of March Field approached, the museum reinstalled the exhibits in its Main Gallery, opened a changing exhibit gallery space, & launched major improvements throughout its public areas. The 2018 Centennial has been a fantastic opportunity for the museum to showcase the incredible history of an Air Force icon. The oldest continuously operated military airfield on the West Coast, March Field (today’s March Air Reserve Base) also is a birthplace of the modern Air Force that our nation relies upon today.