Summer Fun on Long Island: The Cradle of Aviation Museum

Among the newest and most fascinating attractions on Long Island is the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Conveniently located between Roosevelt Field shopping mall, Hofstra University, and Nassau Community College, the museum is an exciting place to visit even if you know nothing about Long Island's long association with aviation history. Just don't ruin it for the kids by telling them it's a unique educational experience!

In the early years of the 20^th century, the flat, treeless prairie of Nassau County's Hempstead Plains, interrupted only by a few scattered farmhouses, was extremely attractive to the many aviation pioneers who eagerly followed in the Wright brothers' footsteps. By 1910, three airfields were already operating on Hempstead Plains. A year later, the first successful transcontinental flight left from Long Island and arrived in California a mere 49 days later. In 1919, the first successful transatlantic flight took off from Long Island, completing its trip to England with only two stops along the way. It would not be until 1927, however, that Charles Lindbergh would pilot the single-engine Spirit of St. Louis solo and nonstop from Roosevelt Field to Paris. It was also from Long Island in 1937 that Pan American launched the nation's first regularly commercial airline service. By then, Roosevelt Field-now a sprawling shopping mall-had grown to be America's largest and busiest civilian airfield.

The history of Long Island's many accomplishments in the field of aerospace from the early 20^th century to the present is well-documented by the growing collection of rare aircraft on display in the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Upon entering the spacious new building, visitors are immediately greeted by an overhead exhibition that includes an early biplane, a primitive helicopter, and a Navy fighter jet suspended in mid-dive. Also featured among the Museum's many treasures are America's fourth-oldest aircraft, the very first plane owned by Charles Lindbergh, and one of the only three lunar modules left on Earth.

The Museum also houses Long Island's first domed IMAX theater, which features a line-up of aviation-themed films shown hourly throughout the day. Current titles include "Roving Mars," "Fighter Pilot," and "Wired to Win." Kids may especially enjoy "Bugs," the story of a praying mantis and a butterfly in the Borneo rainforest. (What this has to do with aviation, I have no idea, but no one should miss the opportunity to watch a film about insects on the giant IMAX screen.)

For kids, a highlight of their day at the museum may be lunch at the Red Planet Café, designed to simulate a Mars space station in the year 2040, including a striking view of the Martian landscape. Top it all off with a souvenir from the gift shop, and your visit to the museum is sure to be a memorable one. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 to 5, and the Red Planet Café is open daily from 10 to 4. Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for kids.