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While its role is not widely known, Cleveland played an important part in the early decades of aviation. With one of the largest and busiest airports in the world throughout the 1920s and 1930s, a booming aviation manufacturing industry, and the legendary National Air Races, hosted by Cleveland from 1929 to 1949, aviation remained a significant factor in the city for several decades.
The Aviation Collection of the Crawford Museum began in the earliest days of the museum's existence, when it was called the Thompson Products Auto Album. Under the guidance of noted aviation artist Charles Hubbell, the staff of Thompson Products sought out and acquired aircraft that held a special place in Cleveland's history, such as Bumble Bee, the first plane in Cleveland, or the various aircraft that participated in the National Air Races.
After the Thompson Auto Album collection was donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society in 1963 and renamed the Crawford Collection, the staff of the museum continued to collect aircraft significant to this region, whether having been built here, flown in the National Air Races, or were otherwise significant, such as Jim Dunlap's around-the-world Cessna.
Currently a number of the Crawford's planes are undergoing restoration, so that they may be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.
Click on the links to the right to view our aircraft collection.
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