1940 Air Terminal Museum

Nice bit of Houstonia! Volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable and are doing a yeoman’s job restoring the terminal.
Enjoyed the museum and will be back, it’d be interesting to follow their progress.

A hidden gem in Houston. The building is amazing, it is truly a piece of history, and has a great collection of items. One of te few art deco buildings maintained today.
Thanks to Amy and Russ for their hospitality!

Wirklich nette kleine Ausstellung sehr individuell.
Ich hatte einen Fuehrer Fuer mich alleine. Das hat richtig Spass gemacht.

I brought my daughter here on yesterday and we had a fantastic time together. We learned a lot about the history of aviation in Houston, TX and had a well knowledgable volunteer walk us through the tour. We also visited the hangar where the older model planes are kept and my daughter was able to simulate driving a plane. After the tours, we sat outside and watched the Southwest planes land and take off. I highly recommend this museum as a fun, learning experience for the entire family. Looking forward to our next visit!!!

If you are a fan of aviation or appreciate Art Deco architecture then this is a must see. The original Houston airport terminal was restored and maintained rather than destroy it. Such an interesting part of history. The guide took time to explain how the terminal was laid out originally but didn’t interfere with my browsing which I like to do on my own. The $ 5 fee is well worth to keep places like this in operation. Wonderful collection of mod and retro airline memorabilia in one half and a history of aviation in the other. I LOVE everything about the early days with Lindbergh and Earhart. I was jealous of the huge picture of 4 female pilots from the 30s. I didn’t get to visit the hangar but I was able to go inside the 1940s era Lockheed out back. I made this stop on my way back home out of Hobby and it’s well worth the detour.

What a treasure this place is, full of the beauty and life aviation truly was back in the day. Free and ample parking in the front, and $ 5 for museum entrance (for adults). Russ was friendly and enthusiastic sharing details about the terminal’s history as well as his personal aviation stories. Later Jim took a small family group and me to the hangar to see the aircraft and flight sims. The location is right by the Hobby Airport runway so you will definitely catch the noise of airplanes taking off. Wonderful little gem, I’ll be back!

This «Boutique Museum» is clearly run by people who truly love it. At $ 5 for adults, $ 2 for kids and free for military, police and firemen it is a wonderful way to kill a few hours. This is not an all day activity, but if you love flying and planes it is worth the trip. Make sure you ask to go to the hanger to see the planes, they really make the museum.

Went here and learned a lot about the original Houston Air Terminal. This terminal serves as a museum but learned it has a fully functional tower in the event Houston Hobby Air Control needs to have a backup location. Got a chance to walk out on the area next to 12R and 17R runways, we saw several dozen takeoffs and landings.

If you have not been here you are definitely missing out on something so amazing right in our back yard. I have lived 10 mins from the 1940 air terminal museum for the past 6 years and just found it a few days ago. If you live anywhere near hobby airport and have yet to go you are missing out big time! And the entrance fee was just $ 5 and you get so much for so little the employees are very kind and super welcoming!

A hidden historical treasure in Houston! I loved this place so much, I had to take my engagement photos here. Phil was AMAZING, giving us information on the planes just as we were taking our photos. He removed oil pans and the forklift (i think thats what it was) for our pictures to look even more amazing. It was a bit windy, but I am so in love with the way they turned out.
It is definitely convenient, and you will get some amazing shots, if the weather cooperates!
Thank you, Phil! I am sending you a big hug!

What a grand collection of aviation history! This is a true treat in Houston. We had driven by so many times on the way to Hobby and always said «We should go there.» Finally we did.
$ 5.00/adult to browse at your speed all the cool antiques from this great collection. I love that they are restoring the original art deco style this building was built in. The restorations they have made so far are great! It filled with so many items to look at and take in. Then you even get a trip to the hanger where you can board some really old aircrafts and sit in the simulators. If you are a fan of local history or aviation, you need to check this place out. And apparently — you can even fly in to check it out ;)

This is a very small but fun museum! Its very interesting to see what flying was like before it turned into a pain in the butt! They have planes come in once a month and let people go onto the ramp to view them up close! The staff is all volunteer and are extremely nice! I would highly recommend stopping by and supporting them!

Love this gem as it’s 1940’s Art Deco takes you back to another era. It’s preserved historic places like this in Houston that make me proud of those in this city going the extra mile to keep important memories alive. It’s in a most unassuming location behind Hobby Airport, quite possibly the ugliest location for a large airport BUT that is what gives it character. The set up is something out of a 20’s movie and the volunteers are the nicest people. Even before we went into the building a volunteer met me outside noticing my curiosity to the building itself. He gave me an amazing dissertation on the frescos framing the building. The set up inside is nostalgic to say the least and you can go through it on your own reading all the interesting bits in under an hour. And/​or you can get a volunteer to tell you «stories» passed down through the decades… which of course include those of Howard Hughes. Most intriguing was the fact that you can arrange all sorts of parties in this space and their hanger. This is Howard Hughes kind of stuff! We can’t wait to go back. No crowds, great history and nostalgia. Now if only their neighbor would start a themed restaurant nearby. (Landrys hanger).

Wow! This was everything I could have hoped in a wedding venue! We were able to bring in our own DJ, caterer, florist, cake, bartenders, wine & beer, rentals, etc. Amy was more than happy to work with us to make our wedding exactly what we envisioned. The museum is so beautiful; it really didn’t need a lot of decorations. We had a 7 hour reception on Saturday night, which was awesome. I loved having our reception in a place that is a 501C non-​profit organization. The money we spent was a tax write-​off for us and they use the money to restore the beautiful museum. We were able to take our engagement pictures here as well, which turned out really well. I also love the fact, that we can visit our reception venue anytime and relive the romance of our wedding.

This 1940s Art Deco Terminal is definitely worth checking out. They have done a wonderful job restoring the museum while preserving the sandstone floors, pillars and you can even see the outline on the floor where the lunch counter with stools once were.
We were greeted by Steve when we arrived and he offered some history about the terminal. Eastern was the big airline here followed by Trans Texas and Pan Am. While you cannot tour the control tower (sad face) the first floor has several rooms filled with aviation memorabilia. There are outfits, plate ware, playing cards and other items chronicling the airlines and the times. My favorite part was the homage to the woman Air Force pilots and the retro outfits that flight attendants wore.
The museum backs up against the runway of the Hobby airport. There are benches outside the museum and you can watch the planes takeoff while getting a good whiff of jet fuel too.

I have lived here my whole life! How did I not know about this place? It’s a little peice of history and Houston history mixed in. I felt as though I traveled back in time! And reading/​learning how the women were taught how to pilot the airplanes while the men were at war, was such a great feeling! And something I didn’t know! There is a separate place where you can go check out some planes and get into the cock pit! So cool! Definitely a place to check out, if you haven’t already! They are added more to the place. It’s a little hidden. So keep your eyes open when looking for it.

Had an awesome time here on a field trip with a group of first graders. Such a wonderful staff (Mr. Kelly and Mr. McCann). This museum was such an interesting find and unique experience for my kids. They were so excited by the model planes and getting a chance to do the flight simulator in the hangar. For $ 2, you can’t beat this place! Check it out!

Came here on a dreary weekday with my fiancé using a two-​for-​one Groupon. Both of us work have a passion for airline nostalgia and this museum delivers.
We were met by a docent who explained a great deal about the start of the Houston airport, its history, rise and fall, and where the museum has been and where it wants to go. He was a very interesting gentleman to listen to, and was genuinely passionate about the museum.
The actual terminal building is an Art Deco gem that was spared the wrecking ball 20 years ago when the City of Houston wanted to tear it down and sell the land. Instead, it was put in the care of the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society, which in turn made a museum from the original Houston airline terminal. Much of the terminal remains intact as it was 70 years ago and now houses exhibits on the history of flight, general aviation, corporate aviation, and it shines at highlighting the various domestic and international airlines that called upon this terminal during its years as a passenger terminal. The airline memorabilia, history, logo art, and uniforms used by pilots, stewardesses, mechanics, and ticketing agents is unrivaled. Stories are told, and a bygone era comes back to life.
We did not want to leave, and will be back again.

$ 5 for this little gem? Cheap at twice the price!
I took my hubby here on Saturday, we got there later than we anticipated (bad restaurant experience!!) and started with an introduction to the museum by one of the volunteers Geoff. He was excellent, he talked with us for 30 – 40 minutes and gave us an excellent insight into the history of the place. It was wings and wheels weekend, but since we were late to the museum we only had 5 minutes to go out there and most of the wings and wheels were gone but I can imagine it’s a sight to behold when the whole lot is there.
It was fun watching planes land and take off outside too and there’s plenty to look at inside. The building itself was beautiful!
I’m going to look into doing an event here — that’s how much I loved it!

Beautiful, old, historic, art deco building. Definitely worth a trip to see the original air terminal in Houston. The museum has a great display of airlines that once used the terminal including actual flight attendant outfits, photos, and other relics of the past. Of special note was a funny performance review of a female flight attendant from many decades ago. Over half the performance review was about the color of her make up, her hair, and how friendly she was to the customer. It was an interesting glimpse into a ‘Mad Men’ era flight. I loved the architecture of the building and got some great photos of old planes in front of the art deco exterior.
We went on the 3^rd Saturday of the month to their monthly special event. This month they had lots of different planes on display on the tarmac behind the building including some you could crawl through. They were also offering (for a hefty price) rides on a b17 bomber. There was also a special traveling exhibit about the Tuskegee airmen, RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit. We didn’t see the movie but heard it was really good and they were offering it for free! We were disappointed that there weren’t any «wheels» at this «Wings and Wheels» monthly event. I asked someone who was a volunteer and they said they take what they can get and they rely on the car clubs to come.
We went over spring break to the weekend event and it was free. They made the whole week free for everyone as a special spring break incentive. I thought that was great; it gave families something fun and educational to do together.
They also had a food truck on site which was perfect! Flaming Patties was the truck and they had a decent menu for both meat eaters and vegetarians.
Definitely an interesting place. If you go, I suggest going on the 3^rd Saturday of the month when they have a wider variety of things to see. Their calendar can be found at:

So my oldest bookmark to date finally, got visited.
I recently got the pleasure of catching up with one of my oldest Unilocal friends, Edgar V at the gold elite event. While there, not only did we plan a lunch meeting at another old bookmark, but followed it up by exploring one of Houston’s hidden gems.
So the main reason I haven’t been here until now is that my exploring days are usually Mondays, and this place is closed. But lucky for me on this Tuesday I had Edgar to accompany me. They are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday
Admission is $ 5.00 for adults and $ 2.00 for children.
This place is awesome! It’s Art Deco. And it is original 1940 Air Terminal. They have fully restored the place. And it sits right next to the airway where the planes taxi. Such a cool spot, we were so lucky to be brought into the hangar just down the street to visit some cool planes too. It was one of the best Houston museums!