Organization - Prairie Aviation Museum

Create an environment to learn about aviation history: collect, preserve, and display aviation items; educate, entertain, and inspire about aviation.

Description:
The PAM is a membership based organization. At its high point, the PAM boasted about 300 members - some pilots, some aviation enthusiasts, some who enjoy the comradery of an active yet low key group who enjoys working together for a common purpose. Every member is provided the opportunity to assist at their own level and ability. Some cover a shift during open hours; some give tours; some are Board Members; some help restore aircraft or maintain displays. Many work at the events and fund-raisers. The organization has no paid staff so the volunteers truly run and enjoy the museum and see firsthand the looks on the faces of those who enjoy the Prairie Aviation Museum!

History:
PAM was founded in the mid 1980's by aviation enthusiasts. A mainstay was the acquisition of the DC3. By providing opportunities for others to fly in a workhorse of WWII and an important commercial plane from the post war era, many experienced flight for the first time. The museum was added and many of the displays were donated to help preserve aviation history. In the 1990's PAM brought the Challenger Learning Center to BN. The CLC is transferring to Heartland Community College but the Mission of the museum remains and the focus is clear - to met the mission described above. Today many students and visitors tour the museum annually - they see the displays, enjoy the "Day at the Airport" and "Open Cockpit Days." The outside displays are on permanent loan from the military and maintatined by the PAM.

Contact people:

John Eckley, Board Director, (phone), (email) Steve Schmidt, Board Director, (phone)

Address:

2929 East Empire Bloomington, IL 61704 (See a map)

Directions:

In the Northeast corner of the old airport complex. Just west of Image Air is a small building (the museum) - you can see the outdoor exhibits of aircraft just behind adn beside the museum.