Are you headed to Orange County, California for a last minute vacation before summers end? Maybe you live locally and are looking for something to do for a few hours on a Saturday morning, head to the Lyon Air Museum.
The Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana, CA is located across the runway from John Wayne airport on the West side, tucked into an airport industrial area and is a hidden treasure.
The museum was founded by Major General William Lyon and is run in conjunction with Martin Aviation. Here you can touch a small part of aviation history.
The staff is friendly and welcoming; the docents are fantastic and eager to take you on a private tour if you desire. As you walk through the doors to the museum and take a breath, you will notice the scent of motor oil, the smell reminds me of my Dad’s garage. Isn’t that the smell you are suppose to get when surrounded by old planes, military motorcycles and cars?
The displays of military memorabilia, highlights of a few of our military men and their awards and stories is fascinating. This is our history. The small air-conditioned theater screens continuously, short documentaries, and military films.
On the day we visited they were screening a documentary of Jim Brooks and his stories of his military service flying a P-51 Mustang. It is a beautifully done documentary with interviews with him and his grandchildren, you should check it out. You can see a clip of the film and read his story at www.grayeagles.org
Climb the stairs or take the elevator to the second floor where you can look down over the museum and look at the military art on the walls.
Currently the exhibition highlights several old Duesenberg cars. They have held the exhibit over until Sept. 7, 2015 and it is a must see if you love cars. The cars have been lovingly restored and are exquisite. Cars are no longer made with the classic lines, these were designed and created in a bygone era.
There is a small parking lot at the museum. You can spend anywhere from an hour to two. This is a great place to take the kids.
The Lyon Air Museum is one that I will keep track of, watch the upcoming exhibits and visit again.
For hours and more information, visit http://lyonairmuseum.org/.
Enjoy,
Terri