Aviation Museum
When education and pure fun combine, special things happen. Welcome to one of those special places!
WHERE IS IT? Cape May Airport, just north of the island. Take Broadway/Seashore to Breakwater, turn left. Look for planes a quarter-mile on your right and follow signs to museum.
WHY SHOULD I GO? History! And airplanes. How can you need more reason than that? The Cape May County Airport is built on the site of Naval Air Station Wildwood, a vital World War II training base where thousands of young aviators learned the demanding art of dive bombing before heading overseas.
Commissioned in 1943, NAS Wildwood played a critical role in preparing Navy pilots for combat in the Pacific. From this very location, squadrons practiced carrier-style operations, formation flying, and precision dive-bombing runs over the surrounding wetlands and waterways – training that directly contributed to Allied success during the war. More than 80 years later, that legacy still echoes through the massive WWII hangar that now houses the Aviation Museum.
Step inside and you’ll see just how far aviation has come. From WWII combat aircraft like the TBM Avenger and a rare F6F Hellcat to Cold War and modern jets such as the MiG-15, F-14 Tomcat, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the museum’s newest addition—a Harrier jet—the collection spans decades of aviation history. Along the way, visitors encounter postwar and Vietnam-era aircraft like the UH-1 Huey and T-33 jet trainer, and can even climb into a Coast Guard rescue helicopter.
Beyond the exhibits, the museum hosts events throughout the year, including AirFest, its largest annual celebration over Labor Day weekend, plus family programs, special exhibits, and community gatherings. Leashed pets are welcome, and Victory Scoops, the on-site ice cream parlor, offers a sweet way to cool off.
The museum is supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
INSIDER TIP Don’t just view history – step into it. Visitors can climb into the pilot’s seat of select aircraft and take in the view from the historic Bader Field control tower. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum offers rare hands-on experiences inside an authentic WWII hangar.
