Pretty much everything the SFO Museum displays in the terminals from its own collection or from a collection on loan is top-notch. But there are plenty of objects that never, or rarely, go on display. And lots of objects you might miss if you’re just passing through.
That’s why we’re delighted that for 2023, the SFO Museum is highlighting one “notable, unusual, interesting, or just plain fun” item from the collection each week.
Here’s what’s shown up so far.
This year, we’re going to highlight #52objects from our collection that we find notable, unusual, interesting, or just plain fun! Follow along using the hashtag #52objects! pic.twitter.com/4vPk2YZ2AB
Before people carried around cell phones in their pockets that automatically updated to the current time zone, airlines gave out convenient time converters to passengers on international flights. Have you been to any locations on this card?#52Objects#Timezones#TWA#AvGeekpic.twitter.com/wLliL46UVP
For the next 4 years, 90,000+ people signed up for a space trip and received these First Moon Flights Club cards. The card's back read, "Pan Am makes the going great: first in Latin America, first on the Atlantic, first on the Pacific, first round the world." #52Objects#PanAmpic.twitter.com/CjBLPFpq4R
There are more than a few inexplicable objects in our museum collection but this tabletop model featuring an aircraft on top of a walrus is one of the more peculiar ones. From the late 1930s, would this novelty item look at home on your desk today?#52Objectspic.twitter.com/yDCKIkZ1u6
An iconic airline livery collaboration between beloved Japanese brand Sanrio and EVA Air featured many themed amenities such as this Hello Kitty printed roll of toilet paper. #52objectspic.twitter.com/D4C5dy431S
San Franciscan Lincoln Beachey (1887–1915) performs in his biplane over the Panama-Pacific Intl Expo grounds in 1913. He was the first to perform a loop-the-loop in the U.S. and his repertoire of heart-stopping stunts made him the leading pioneer of aerial acrobatics #52Objectspic.twitter.com/jYrWmsqMS9
architectural drawing: Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco, Contract No. 1, progress chart for grading; 1927 Transfer from San Francisco International Airport 1997.52.001 #52Objectshttps://t.co/dEXu0tktcR
An unusual object in our collection is a disposable obstetrical kit. Although a rare occurrence, babies are delivered onboard planes. This kit includes a disposable scalpel, a bulb aspirator, and a receiving blanket among other things needed to deliver a baby. #52objectspic.twitter.com/1UK2ISGLVS
October 17 is National Playing Card Collection Day and we know that many travelers have fond memories of the free decks of playing cards some airlines would hand out to passengers.
We found these images of some of those decks in the marvelous, searchable online collection of the SFO Museum at San Fransisco International Airport (SFO).
Do you have a deck of cards from an airline in your collection? Please share a photo and your memories of getting that souvenir.
This tweet, about the museum’s collection of more than 100 flight attendant smocks and aprons sent the Stuck at the Airport fashion reporter down a very deep rabbit hole checking out the fashions.
Smocks and aprons are a crucial yet often overlooked part of a flight attendant’s uniform and can vary wildly in design from one airline or era to another. Browse our collection of over one hundred smocks & aprons in our online database: https://t.co/pUb01199b1#crewlife#avgeekpic.twitter.com/WYC7lQps3B
As fans of airports, libraries, aviation history, and museums, we’re delighted that San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has reopened the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum & Library after a two-year closure.
The facility is named after a former airport director and sits pre-security in the Main Hall of SFO’s International Terminal.
The retro look intentionally evokes the airport’s passenger lobby from the 1930s.
The museum is home to more than 150,000 objects related to the histories of commercial aviation and San Francisco International Airport. And during the facility shutdown, SFO Museum staff spent time doing an extensive digital construction of the museum’s Aviation Collection.
Aerial view of SFO – 1966
Now there are more than 40,000 objects accessible online. And more material is being added each week. Online highlights include the history of SFO airport; material relating to major airlines such as Pan Am and United Airlines; and photographs, uniform pieces, and other aviation memorabilia, such as Junior Pilots Pins and airsickness bags.
But if you’re just interested in poking around, beware.
We started this post three hours ago and went down a serious rabbit hole once we started clicking on the “random object” button.
Visit the Aviation Museum & Library in person
With its reopening, the Aviation Museum & Library is also launching a series of new exhibitions that passengers may visit in person. Exhibits include:
Going the Distance: Endurance Aircraft Engines & Propellers of the 1910s & 20s.
This exhibit includes two groundbreaking engines, the V-8 Curtiss OXX-6 and the Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial engine, two related propellers, photographs, and more.
Jet Mainliner in Miniature: the United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 Cutaway Model
This exhibit shows off a late-1950s United Airlines cutaway model of a DC-8. Historical photographs, promotional materials, and video clips from United’s promotional film ‘Jet Mainliner Flight 803’ are also on display.
There are also several other new exhibits in the reopened aviation museum at SFO, making this a great time to schedule a long layover to take in these and some of the 20 exhibits the SFO Museum presents throughout the terminal buildings.
All photos and images are courtesy of the SFO Museum.
New England Air Museum adjacent to Bradley International Airport (BDL)
May 18 is International Museum Day, which gives us an excuse to talk about some of the great museums in and adjacent to airports around the country.
Having a museum or museum program in an airport just makes so much sense. Millions of people pass through airports each year. Many passengers have plenty of downtime before their flights. And art or history exhibits in airports can connect passengers with a place, inspire them, educate them, or create those sought after moments of suprise and delight.
Here are a handful of airport museums and museum programs to look for on your next trip. Let us know if we missed your favorite.
Phoenix Airport Museum
The Phoenix Airport Museum at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is one of the oldest and largest airport art program in the country. You’ll find permanent artwork and temporary exhibitions throughout the sprawling airport facilities, including in the rental car center and at the Sky Train stations.
Did you know the Phoenix Airport Museum has FREE postcards available at most exhibition spaces? 📬
— Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) May 18, 2022
SFO Museum
The SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is accredited by the American Alliance of Museum (AAM). In addition to permanent public art and more than a dozen temporary exhibitions at a time, the museum maintains a video arts program , student art programs, and photography galleries.
Julia Clark (1880–1912) at the controls of a Curtiss biplane c. 1912. Courtesy SFO Museum
Wondering why the Aviation Museum & Library remain closed? Our recent blog post shares exciting details of the Museum’s renovation, as well as behind-the-scenes images of work to deinstall and protect the objects within. Read more: https://t.co/inXay9LBsM#BehindTheScenespic.twitter.com/oHhUuji7oO
The free Mitchell Gallery of Flight at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is located pre-security and open 24 hours a day. Exhibits include airplane models, aviation paintings, propellers, a scale model of the Milwaukee airport terminal as it looked in 1941, and sections dedicated to famous Wisconsinites in aviation history such as astronaut James Lovell and General Billy Mitchell, known as ‘the father of the U.S. Air Force.
You’ll find aviation-themed history exhibits and full-fledged aviation museums in and adjacent to many other airports too.
