American Airlines reopened its CR Smith Museum over Labor Day weekend after a significant redesign of its permanent exhibitions. These updates, the first major changes since the museum opened 25 years ago, were funded by donations from American Airlines Group, PACMIN and Boeing.
American Airlines staff volunteers led development of the revamped exhibits, which aim to give visitors a clearer, more engaging look at the roles of airline employees and the scope of the carrier’s global operations. New interactive features include an Airline Command Center that lets visitors step into simulated operational roles, an authentic McDonnell Douglas MD-80 cockpit, and a timed baggage loader challenge that invites guests to load luggage against the clock.
“Although air travel is familiar to many, the inner workings of airline operations are often misunderstood,” said Uli Das, executive director of the American Airlines CR Smith Museum. “The redesign adopts a fresh approach to explain how airline operations function and highlights the people who keep American Airlines running every day. Our goals were twofold: create a source of pride for American Airlines team members and their professions, and provide an educational resource for the public. Ultimately, the museum’s new focus should spark more local interest in careers with American Airlines.”
Das added that the museum aims to introduce visitors to the variety of team roles and to expose students—including many from Title I schools—to aviation career paths they might not otherwise discover.
In addition to the permanent galleries, the museum offers STEM programming for children and teens, including hands-on workshops and summer camps designed to inspire interest in aviation, engineering and related fields.
Operated as an independent nonprofit, the CR Smith Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.