Plans under way for airport’s centennial

Airport museum to celebrate with $14M expansion

Congress has approved $150,000 for the design phase of the expansion.

U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Dist. 5) of Mechanicsville said he supports the expansion of the museum, which ‘‘has become a popular attraction for Prince George’s County residents and visitors to the region.”

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which operates the museum, has hired a consultant to advise on fundraising strategy, museum director Catherine Allen said Friday.

‘‘It was originally estimated to be $8 million, but because our legislators encouraged us to make a green, environmentally friendly building, the cost has gone up to $14 million,” Allen said. ‘‘People who really care about the environment may be willing to support a building like this.”

The airport was founded in 1909 when Wilbur Wright came to College Park to give flight instruction to the country’s first military aviators.

The museum has a wide range of exhibits on display, including unique aircraft and artifacts and a display of the history of the airfield.

Last year, 47,714 people visited the museum, Allen said.

Currently, the museum is 27,000 square feet, and the expansion will double that space. A 200-seat theater will be added for movies, lectures and plays. A multipurpose room for birthday parties and weddings is also in the plans.

‘‘We didn’t know that people were going to look to the museum for those kinds of activities, such as weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and retirements,” she said. ‘‘In the new museum space, we are aware that we will need to provide additional spaces for those types of activities that the public has asked us for.”

Chris Wagnon, acting deputy director of M-NCPPC’s Department of Parks and Recreation, said details of who will be inducted into the aviation Hall of Fame are yet to be determined.

‘‘We will have to set up a procedure on how to select the [Hall of Fame inductees],” he said. ‘‘The project is still in its infancy.”

College Park city officials have welcomed news of the planned expansion.

‘‘The airport is of tremendous historical value,” Councilman David Milligan said. ‘‘We see the museum as a way to keep the airport on the map. We’re interested in seeing the facility grow and thrive. The expansion will be good for the city.”

On Friday, Antoinette Agarwal of Silver Spring was in a play area where wooden toy airplanes were just the right size for her 3-year-old son, Zane, to climb in and pretend to be flying.

‘‘This is such a cool space,” she said.