Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum — Attraction in Paradise

Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas International Airport) Terminal 1, 2nd Floor

This aviation museum is located within Las Vegas International Airport. This aviation museum displays a wide range of exhibits related to Southern Nevada's aviation history. The museum is named after Nevada Senator Howard W. Cannon, who served four terms in the U.S. Senate from 1958 to 1982. One of his accomplishments is the passage of the Aviation Deregulation Act of 1978. This law doubled commercial flights into what is now Harry Reid International Airport between 1978 and 1980, contributing to the development of today's commercial aviation industry. Airport History: Aviation first arrived in Las Vegas in 1920. Randall Henderson, who made a name for himself as a newspaper publisher in Blythe, California, and later as the founder and editor-in-chief of the magazine "Desert," is less known for his involvement in the aviation industry. However, flying a borrowed Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny," he became the first pilot to land in Las Vegas on May 7, 1920. The museum tells this and other aviation stories in various exhibits throughout the airport. Display Panels: • Aviation figures with ties to the area Howard W. Cannon Leon H. Rockwell, Sr. Howard Hughes John A. Macready Pat McCarran George & Peg Crockett Jack Frye and TWA William H. Nellis Earl Hall Tragedy: The Loss of Maury Graham William G. Gilmore, III (Collection of Airline Insignia) • Aircraft that originally flew at and landed at the airport Ford Tri-Motor DC 1-2-3 Lockheed Constellation Curtis JN-4 B-17 B-29 Commercial Turboprop Commercial Jets • Airlines that served the airport from its early days Western Air Express Bonanza Air Lines Alamo Airways Ground Canyon Air Lines • Other T-50 Bobcat Variable Pitch Propeller Women in Aviation Air Mail Fire Flight Alamo Airport Pre-War Airports in Clark County First Flight World Congress of Fight 1959 Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School The Beginning of McCarran International Airport

• Notable Exhibits World Endurance Flight Displayed on the museum's ceiling is the 1958 Cessna 172 that set the world endurance flight record in 1959. Robert Timm and John Cook flew without landing for 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes, and 5 seconds, a record that still stands today. The flight was sponsored by the Hacienda Hotel and Casino as a benefit for the Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation. The actual aircraft is on display at the north end of baggage claim in Terminal 1.

Located between the main exhibit area and the Cessna in Terminal 1 is a 1956 red Ford Thunderbird, also part of the museum's exhibits. This aircraft is the same model and make as the aircraft used by George Crockett's Alamo Aviation from 1957 to 1968, and has been restored to match the original.

If you have some free time between flights or before picking up friends and family, be...

Very cool free museum in the middle of the airport before TSA lines so anyone can visit this for free after paying to park.

I really enjoyed the Ford Thunderbird rescue car that was on full display as well as the Cessna hanging from the ceiling. Full sized!

They have multiple individual displays about the history of the Las Vegas airport, and how it came into existence as well as artifacts from Long gone airlines.

My favorite artifacts include the matches, lighters, vintage zippo lighters with boxes and the postman mannequin. All, with a complete branded ashtray that was used on the airlines. And oh my oh yeah. Totally worth stopping by early af to visit this site and see all their is to see.

This museum is a fantastic place to play. Pokémon go and not be in everybody’s way. Multiple gyms, and plenty of PokéStops are located just before the TSA lines as well as all over the...

If you're in McCarran airport and have some time to spare, this baby museum is packed with tons of Las Vegas aviation history.

The displays are educational and each one is packed with lots of reading to keep you busy. The visuals included pilot uniforms, airport and airplane parts artifacts, tons of vintage black and white aviation pictures. This is a nice little stop if you have about 15-30 minutes to spare. The readings are definitely more interesting than the displays themself.

The C & D gate TSA entrances are close by and can be seen from the museum. It's definitely worth checking out once if you're in the McCarran airport....