National Aviation Day at The Henry Ford

Name: National Aviation Day at The Henry Ford
Start: 2025-08-19T09:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-08-19T17:00:00-04:00
Location: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI, United States, Michigan 48124

Schedule

Tue Aug 19 2025 at 09:30 am to 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI, United States, Michigan 48124 | Dearborn, MI

Experience the evolution of American aviation, from the Wright brothers’ historic liftoff to today’s awe-inspiring technological advances on National Aviation Day at The Henry Ford.
In the museum, travel through one of the most miraculous periods of discovery in flight amid the iconic aircraft in “Heroes of the Sky”. Plus, learn about women aviators in World War II in our temporary exhibition, “Our War Too: Women in Service.” In Greenfield Village, celebrate the Wright family’s contribution to flight and take part in hands-on games and activities.
National Aviation Day at The Henry Ford is presented by Delta Air Lines. For more details, please visit: https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/national-aviation-day/
FEATURED PROGRAMMING:
✈️ At Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation ✈️
🛩️ “Our War Too: Women in Service” | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
This traveling exhibition from The National WWII Museum honors the nearly 350,000 American women who answered the call to serve their country during World War II. Learn about women who served with the civilian Women Airforce Service Pilots, in the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as with the Army and Navy Nurse Corps. Learn more at THF.org/OurWarToo.
🛩️ Hands-on Activities 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Join us under the Douglas DC-3 plane as we celebrate aviation feats. Learn about the principles of flight and create your own flying contraptions to test in our wind tube. Make a flight plan to travel throughout Michigan, just like a real pilot.
🛩️ Story Time presented by Delta Air Lines | 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Visit the Arctic Alcove in “Heroes of the Sky” for story time with Delta Air Lines. We will read a selection of stories about perseverance and soaring to new heights.
✈️ At Greenfield Village ✈️
🛩️ Special Tours of the Wright Home | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Originally located in Dayton, Ohio, this home is where Wilbur and Orville Wright began their serious studies in aviation. Visit Main Street to tour the Wright Home, including an exclusive look at the upstairs.
🛩️ Timed Tours of Wright Cycle Shop | 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Visit the shop where the Wright brothers built their earliest flying machines. Wright Cycle Shop will be open to visitors all day. At the times listed above, Jim Johnson, director of Greenfield Village and curator of historic structures and landscapes, will be offering more in-depth tours of the shop, including its upstairs.
🛩️ Special Presentations in The Lodge at Christie & Main
◼️ 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. | Joann Hoppe, Greenfield Village presenter, takes an in-depth look at the life of the Wright sister, Katherine Wright Haskell.
◼️ 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. | Kirk Haas, Greenfield Village presenter, shares the story of the first flight.
🛩️Activities on Main Street | 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Stop by the Wright Day booths to enjoy wind tunnel demonstrations, test your hand at making paper airplanes and take a photo with a Wilbur and Orville Wright cutout.
🛩️ 12-Second Races on the Village Green | 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Wright brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk lasted 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. Simulate that flight by testing your speed in a 12-second race on the Village Green.
✈️ At Giant Screen Experience ✈️
🛩️ “Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas” | 1:10 p.m. and 3:05 p.m.
Find yourself aboard the USS Ronald Reagan alongside 5,000 highly skilled sea and air personnel conducting RIMPAC, the world’s largest and most comprehensive international maritime training exercise. 🎟️ See showtimes and purchase tickets: https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/giant-screen-experience/films/. (Free for members.)