Cradle of Aviation Museum

Step into the clouds and beyond at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, located on Museum Row in Garden City, NY. This spectacular destination preserves Long Island’s historic aerospace legacy and inspires future generations through science, technology, and engineering with over 75 air and space craft displayed across 8 chronologically arranged galleries.A Century of Aerospace AdventureLong Island was once the beating heart of American aviation—turning out tens of thousands of aircraft and helping man walk on the moon. The museum beautifully chronicles this century of innovation, offering an interactive journey through the timeline of flight:The Early Years & The Golden Age: Start where flight began on the historic Hempstead Plains. You’ll see rare vintage aircraft, including exact replicas of planes flown by pioneering aviators who used Long Island's flat plains as their runway.The World War II Arsenal: Known for producing legendary warbirds, this gallery honors Long Island manufacturers like Grumman and Republic. Get up close to iconic fighters like the F-14 Tomcat and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.The Space Age: One of the crown jewels of the collection is a genuine, unused Apollo Lunar Module. Designed and built right in Bethpage, stepping in front of it is like taking a direct step onto the surface of the moon!