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Aviation Heritage Center proposes museum and STEM hub at Kingman Municipal Airport; presenters seek fundraising and land studies
Summary
The Aviation Heritage Center of Kingman proposed building a new aviation learning center and museum on airport land adjacent to the control tower; presenters said the multi-floor facility would total roughly 74,000 square feet and is in early fundraising and site-study stages.
Representatives of the Aviation Heritage Center of Kingman presented a conceptual proposal for a new aviation learning center and museum at Kingman Municipal Airport and answered commissioners’ questions about location, size and funding.
Tim Gerlach, president of the Aviation Heritage Center of Kingman, and Jill Gurnatsky, the center’s director, said their vision is for an interactive, STEM-focused heritage center that honors Kingman’s World War II aviation history and serves both local students and visitors. They presented renderings and described an exhibit approach that would be interactive rather than passive; presenters said they plan exhibits for youth robotics and STEM competitions and hope to host national-level events.
Presenters said the preferred location is adjacent to the airport control tower on land currently occupied by CareFlight; they described a park-like setting linked to the airport cafe and monuments. Gerlach and Gurnatsky said the facility footprint is roughly 35,000 square feet with a total of about 74,000 square feet counting multiple floors and that the lot is about 1.78 acres. They reported an early architect’s order-of-magnitude estimate of roughly $6,000,000 to develop the initial architectural plan and begin cost-estimating. The group said they are in early fundraising stages and plan to pursue a mix of donations and institutional partners; they also mentioned outreach at the Route 66 Fest and a mobile exhibit.
Commissioners asked practical questions: the site next to the control tower and CareFlight, whether hangars could accommodate a B‑17 on a turntable, donor and corporate partnerships for simulators (presenters noted Redbird as an example) and an approximate 2–3 year timeline to break ground depending on fundraising and site studies. Presenters said that additional land studies and lease work would be required because the site is on the airport side of the street and that they expect to return with progress updates.
No formal action, lease or funding commitment was requested or approved at the meeting. Commissioners encouraged the group to return with updates and requested a follow-up in about six months.
