Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site — Attraction in Tuskegee

A MUST SEE! If you are an American history buff or even if you aren't, you need to see the museum. I will admit we where there when it was almost 95 degrees and their AC was broken so it was pretty miserable, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the employees who were all so informative and grateful to pass on their knowledge. I wish we'd been able to spend more time but in all honesty, you can get through everything in about two hours or so. We weren't able to get to some of the areas other reviewers have posted pictures of (briefing room/offices/...) but did get to go through Hangars 1 and 2.

I am honored to have been able to see, first hand, the training and dedication of what the Airmen AND support staff (teachers, medical, logistics) and what they went through. I am sniveling about the weather and I was in shorts and polo shirt. I couldn't even imagine PT in a t-shirt and dungarees! I was also saddened to see how so many people were so bigoted, racist and stupid! I didn't walk away with "guilt" but a heaviness of heart at how these heroes were treated before and more importantly after their return. The one picture I am posting is the one that brought tears to my eyes.

My emotions were certainly bouyed when I saw what many of these men and women accomplished in their post military careers. They showed they would not allow victimhood to restrain them from becoming whatever it was they wanted to be.

Thank you to ALL who served our nation in whatever capacity you served. We are free today because of your sacrifice.

(Pro Tip: The parking lot is above the location and on a 95 degree day with 70 humidity, the 1/4 mile walk will destroy ya! You are able to drive right up to the buildings (if not too busy) by taking the...

I am a travel writer for National Park Planner and I visited Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in July 2014. Located at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is a massive museum dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen. Two airplane hangars house aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts from the “Tuskegee Experiment,” a plan to train black Americans as US Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. In addition to the museum, visitors can walk around the grounds and see some of the remaining buildings from the Airmen era. The entire visit is a self-guided experience with a park Ranger on hand to answer any questions.

Moton Field served as the only primary flight training facility for blacks in the United States, but it was just one stop on the road to becoming a pilot. The first stop for all Tuskegee Airmen was ground school at the Tuskegee Institute, the school contracted by the US government to provide ground and primary flight training for black flight cadets from 1941 until the program ended in 1949. Cadets who passed the programs at Tuskegee Institute went on to more rigorous training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, which was seven miles from Moton Field. The Tuskegee Army Air Field no longer exists. Tuskegee Airmen continued as a entity until 1949, when the military had been desegregated and the Airmen were assigned to other units in the nearly formed Air Force. The US Army Air Corps was a unit of the US Army at the start of the Tuskegee training program.

For complete information about the park and plenty of quality photos, visit National Park...

We took another couple with us. He was very interested in seeing the museum having watched the movie about the Red Tails.

Visitors need to keep in mind the focus of the museum. It tells the story of black men, striving to become the nation's first black aviators amid all the hardships from bigotry and prejudices both in training while at Tuskegee and in the war. Their story is told through a lot of written displays, an excellent movie, and living history recordings of actual pilots. If you're expecting a lot of hardware and aircraft on display (like at the Smithsonian), you'll be disappointed. There are 3 (or 4?) aircraft on display (the hallmark being a very well done replica of a P-51) and a few items of clothing and equipment.

If you've come to better understand the history of a group of men who persevered (an excelled) in spite of the racial injustices of that era, I don't think you will be disappointed.

There are acres of parking spaces available. When we were there, there was no more than 10 people touring the museums (located in 2 hangers). The parking lot is on a hill that overlooks the museum and airport. It is a hike down to the museums themselves. Other than Handicap accessible parking right in front of the museums, everyone else has to negotiate the hike from the parking lot....a bit difficult to the families with kids/strollers and the elderly (but not Handicapped.

No tickets...