The Delta Heritage Museum, yet another of Atlanta's hidden gems, is without a doubt a must-see, but if you're to see it this year, you're going to have to go very soon. The Museum, housed in two 1947 hangars, will soon be undergoing a massive renovation. Ex-ci-ting!
The Museum houses the above Boeing-767 Ship 102, which was purchased by Delta's employees, retirees, and friends of Delta who raised $30,000,000 for the acquisition and gifted it to Delta in 1982.
The plane was Delta's first 767, which exactly 24 years after its dedication as "The Spirit of Delta", on December 15, 2006 was opened as a quite unique piece of memorabilia—it had been retrofitted to be not only a 159 feet long airplane, but a museum within a museum!
The Spirit of Delta is actually in Hangar 2 of the Museum. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's the most photographed airplane in the Museum, especially given that there's a staircase in front of one of the engines that's perfect for group photos. There was a school group visiting when I was there and they indeed made a group photo here.
The exhibit space inside The Spirit of Delta is amazing! The docent on duty when I visited, Tiffany, was super nice and eager to share information about the 767 and the Museum. There has to be thousands of artifact in this space alone!
Some of the more fun artifacts are the uniforms that space the decades. The Delta Heritage Museum is home to one of the largest collections of airline uniform in a museum.
High on the cool-factor scale are a number of the models on display in the 767, including these...models of Boeing's proposed Super Sonic Transport (SST). The American SST was designed to carry 250 passengers—more than twice as many as the Concorde (which I've seen on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles, Virginia...amazing!) and would have flown at Mach 2.7-3.0.
Delta had ordered three of these beauties in 1964, but government funding stopped in 1971, before a prototype could be built. Wouldn't it be cool if this project was resurrected?!
There are a few other artifacts on display in Hangar 2, but The Spirit of Delta takes center stage. Be sure to check the Museum's website before heading to the Museum. The exhibit space in The Spirit of Delta is open on certain days/times.
Back over in Hangar 1, there is lots more 'cool factor' going on, the Douglas DC-3 Ship 41 being my favorite in this space. This particular airplane first carried Delta passengers in 1940...it looks sturdy enough that I would totally be comfortable flying in it even today! It's a beautiful plane...who wouldn't want to fly in it?!
She was also the very first aircraft to be presented a National Trust for Historic Preservation award. Lots of 'cool factor' going on here!
Oh, and I didn't know this when I visited...you can tour (inside) the DC-3 on the second Tuesday of every month at noon. These tours are docent-led and start on time...be punctual or wait another month!
This 1936 Stinson Reliant SE was an instrument trainer for Northeast Airlines pilots in 1941-1942. Northeast was merged into Delta in 1972. You're very likely to be blown away at the pristine condition of most of the Museum's aircraft...I totally was.
Going even further back in aviation history, this 1928 Waco 125 plane belonged to Northwest Airways, but instead of being part of its fleet, she was used for promotions, flight instruction, and charters. Northwest Airways was merged into Delta in 2008.
This particular airplane was restored and donated to Northwest Airlines by Capt. Daniel F. Neuman, Ret.,in memory of his wife, Vona Jean Neuman, in 1985. Don't you love those stories. She must have been a very special woman.
Hangar 1 of the Museum has quite a lot of exhibit space like this and the artifacts and history range from uniforms, to serveware, to stories of aviation professionals, to model airplanes. You could easily spend hours and hours and hours exploring this museum!
This 14-foot tall, solid Alaskan red cedar 1,300 pound totem pole was carved by Chilkoot Native American craftsmen in 1969. It resided in Los Angeles until 1987.
There are so many unique artifacts in this Museum...just plan on being here for the duration of their open hours if you're as curious and fascinated by aviation as I am!
Well, here's the deal. The Delta Heritage Museum is on the Delta Headquarters campus and it is in fact open to the public, but only by appointment. That means, you can visit during certain hours, just call ahead to schedule your visit and know that you'll need to present a government issued photo ID at the Delta security entrance.
Also, I mentioned a major renovation. I'm told that the Museum's Hanger 2, where the Boeing 767 (The Spirit of Delta) resides, will be closing this month—in less than three weeks as of this writing. Hangar 1 is slated to remain open through September or October with the Museum reopening later in 2014.
So, if you can make the time to see The Delta Heritage Museum in the next couple of weeks, I think you'll find it well worth the time...there's a lot more going on than what I've mentioned here!
Now, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for lots more photos from my visit to The Delta Heritage Museum!
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
The plane was Delta's first 767, which exactly 24 years after its dedication as "The Spirit of Delta", on December 15, 2006 was opened as a quite unique piece of memorabilia—it had been retrofitted to be not only a 159 feet long airplane, but a museum within a museum!
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
Delta had ordered three of these beauties in 1964, but government funding stopped in 1971, before a prototype could be built. Wouldn't it be cool if this project was resurrected?!
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| The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum |
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| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, DC-3 Ship 41 |
She was also the very first aircraft to be presented a National Trust for Historic Preservation award. Lots of 'cool factor' going on here!
Oh, and I didn't know this when I visited...you can tour (inside) the DC-3 on the second Tuesday of every month at noon. These tours are docent-led and start on time...be punctual or wait another month!
 |
| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Stinson Reliant SE |
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| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, 1928 Waco 125 |
This particular airplane was restored and donated to Northwest Airlines by Capt. Daniel F. Neuman, Ret.,in memory of his wife, Vona Jean Neuman, in 1985. Don't you love those stories. She must have been a very special woman.
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| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Exhibits |
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| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Chilkoot Totem Pole |
There are so many unique artifacts in this Museum...just plan on being here for the duration of their open hours if you're as curious and fascinated by aviation as I am!
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| The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Delta Aircraft Model |
Also, I mentioned a major renovation. I'm told that the Museum's Hanger 2, where the Boeing 767 (The Spirit of Delta) resides, will be closing this month—in less than three weeks as of this writing. Hangar 1 is slated to remain open through September or October with the Museum reopening later in 2014.
So, if you can make the time to see The Delta Heritage Museum in the next couple of weeks, I think you'll find it well worth the time...there's a lot more going on than what I've mentioned here!
Now, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for lots more photos from my visit to The Delta Heritage Museum!
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