Douglas Border Air Museum

11/06/2025

Don’t miss out! ✈️

08/21/2025

✈️ On This Day 96 Years Ago…
Sixteen incredible women pilots landed right here in Douglas as part of the Women’s Air Derby of 1929 — a truly historic moment in aviation and local history!

🌟 Just imagine the excitement in the air as those planes touched down, marking a powerful step forward for women in aviation.

📍Want to learn more? Visit the Border Air Museum to dive into this fascinating story.
💬 And if you have any photos, stories, or information from that time, we’d love for you to stop by and share or comment below! Your contributions help us tell a fuller, richer, and more accurate history for generations to come.

08/20/2025

✈️ Flashback Feature!
Meet Richard and Irma Westbrook, proudly standing beside their newly purchased Emigh Trojan A2 model airplane back in April 1991 — a gem from aviation history. 🛩️

Thanks to generous donors like the Westbrooks and so many others, the Border Air Museum continues to grow its remarkable collection of historic aircraft and aviation artifacts.

📅 Visit us!
We’re open Wednesdays through Fridays, 12 PM – 4 PM, or you can schedule an appointment for a personalized tour.

🔍 Know more about this photo or aircraft?
We’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or stop in to share stories and history — your memories help bring the past to life.

We can’t wait to see you at the museum!

06/16/2025

✈️ UPDATED HOURS! ✈️

Come explore the Border Air Museum – a hidden gem in Douglas showcasing our rich aviation history!

🕒 Hours: Wednesday – Friday | 12 PM – 4 PM

📅 Saturday & other days | By appointment

📍 3200 E 10th St, Douglas, AZ

📞 Call the Visitor Center at (520) 417-7354 to schedule a visit!

🎟️ FREE Admission – bring the family!

04/18/2025

✈️🐣 Hop on Over to the Border Air Museum! 🐣✈️

We’re egg-cited to welcome you this holiday weekend with special Easter Museum Hours! 🐰🌸

📅 Friday, April 18th
🕘 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Saturday, April 19th
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come take flight into history and enjoy an egg-stravagent adventure with the whole family! Whether you're hunting for knowledge or just looking to "jet" away for a bit, we've got something for every-bunny! 🛩️💐

📍 3200 E 10th St, Douglas, AZ 85607
📩 Message us for more info — we're all ears! 🐇

Let your Easter weekend soar with us! 🥚✨

03/21/2025

🚀 Step Back in Time with Standard Airlines! ✈️

At the Border Air Museum, we celebrate the golden age of aviation, and today we’re highlighting a fascinating piece of history—the "Fair Weather Route" of Standard Airlines!

This vintage advertisement showcases the airline’s pioneering transcontinental service, offering luxury and reliability at a time when air travel was still in its infancy. With plush deep-cushioned seats, silenced cabins, and top-notch service, passengers could enjoy a smooth journey across the Southwest.

📍 Route Highlights:
🌅 Los Angeles ➡️ Phoenix ➡️ Tucson ➡️ Douglas ➡️ El Paso
🌐 Connecting travelers to major railway and air express services

🛩️ Did you know? Standard Airlines, known as "The Pioneer Line," later became a part of American Airlines!

💬 Have you or your family ever flown on an early airline like this? Share your stories below!

📸 Visit the Border Air Museum to explore more incredible aviation history! We are open until 4 pm today and will be open tomorrow from 9 am to 12 pm!

02/28/2025

🚁 Did you know? 🚁

The Emigh A-2 Trojan airplane inside the Border Air Museum has a unique history—it was once in a parade!

Back in 1992, this aircraft made a grand appearance in the Desert Storm parade.

Do you remember seeing it? Or do you have any stories about this incredible event? Share your memories in the comments!

Better yet—come visit the museum and share your stories in person! We'd love to document them and keep history alive for future visitors. ✈️📖

We are open until 4 pm today and will be open tomorrow from 9 am to 12 pm! ⏰

02/20/2025

📜 The History of Bisbee-Douglas International Airport ✈️

In 1931, the Douglas Municipal Airport was completed, bringing air mail service to the area that the city enjoyed until 1935. However, by 1936, larger aircraft struggled to land under poor weather conditions, and by 1939, frequent cancellations made it clear that action was needed. Restrictions on the East-West runway added to the challenges.

In January 1940, Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) officials visited at the invitation of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce. They initially recommended extending the runway by 1,300 feet, but American Airlines’ engineers suggested a 2,000-foot extension. After a local civil engineer mapped out the proposed expansion, the CAA rejected it as unfeasible and advised finding a new location, sparking a search for an alternative site and funding.

By November 6, 1940, five potential sites were identified, and three were selected for further consideration. By July 1941, Senator Hayden announced Douglas’ inclusion in the 1942 CAA program, and the Army Corps of Engineers began surveying land. The cost of acquiring 8,000 acres from William J. Davis and Sons was set at $10,000. The Douglas and Bisbee supervisors allocated $5,000 each from road funds to secure the land.

Construction efforts began on July 15th, 1941, by Army engineers. The CAA allocated $360,000 on August 1, and by August 14, the Douglas City Council took responsibility for purchasing, operating, and maintaining the airport. Work officially began on February 1, 1942, with federal funding increased to $530,000.

On April 2, 1942, Captain Norman R. Callish of the Air Corps inspected the site, stating that the Army Air Corps was interested in the location but required the size to be increased. A week later, Army officers negotiated a lease with the city council, ensuring that scheduled airlines could also use the airport. The Army formally accepted the lease in May.

In May 1942, Col. John F. Wadman arrived to represent the Air Force’s training center. The first landing on the new airport took place in June. By July 14, Wadman was officially assigned as the first commanding officer of the Army Air Force Advanced Flying School at Douglas. Initially working out of the post office, he and his staff moved to the air base on October 4. On October 16, a branch post office was established at the base.

Total expenditures for land, leases, and infrastructure amounted to $23,402.33—$10,000 from the county, $11,442.74 from the city, and $1,959.59 from the chamber of commerce.

This marked the beginning of an important chapter in Douglas’ aviation history, paving the way for its role in military and civilian aviation. 🚀

01/31/2025

🚨 Check out this magazine article featuring the iconic Douglas DC-3 "Flagship Texas"! ✈️

This historic aircraft was the very first DC-3 delivered to American Airlines on April 29, 1936—back when the Douglas Municipal Airport was the only airport in the area!

Although NC14988 was the first Douglas DST/DC-3 built, it was always intended to be a production aircraft. Once it received its type, c/n 1494 became NC14988 and was officially sold to American Airlines on July 11, 1936. It was assigned airline number A115 and given the name “Flagship Texas.”

Want to learn more? Come visit us at the museum! Our hours are:
📅 Thursdays & Fridays: 12 PM – 4 PM
📅 Saturdays: 9 AM – 12 PM

If you’d like to schedule a visit outside of these hours, send us a message—we’d love to arrange a tour for you! Looking forward to seeing you soon! 👏

01/24/2025

Mark your calendars for the Douglas Animal Shelter's "Smooches & Pooches" Open House!

We are so excited to see the animal shelter's fresh start so make sure to come out and support them! 🐶

Save the date …. Share… and hope to see you there !

01/03/2025

🎉 A massive THANK YOU to Bill Wendt for delivering this incredible treasure to the museum! And a big shoutout to Juan Pablo Flores for making sure this amazing piece found its way to us through Bill. You both rock! 🙌

🚨 Attention all history and aviation lovers! This stunning vintage Standard Air Lines poster is now on display, and you don’t want to miss it! ✈️✨

💬 Got something special you’d like to donate to the museum? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a message or stop by during our open hours.

📍 We’re here until 4 PM today —swing by and see this fantastic piece of history for yourself!

12/06/2024

🌟 A Memorable Visit to the Border Air Museum! 🌟

On November 14th, 2024, we were thrilled to welcome a group of student teachers traveling from Mexico to our museum! 📚

A big thank you to Drea from Cochise College for organizing this special visit and giving the group a tour of Douglas. It was an absolute pleasure to share stories, connect, and showcase the rich aviation history we’re so proud of here at the Border Air Museum. ✈️

We hope the experience inspired as much curiosity and excitement as it did for us! Thank you all for making this day unforgettable. 😊