Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site & Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site - Tuskegee, AL

On Day 2 of our move back to California we spent the morning in Atlanta, GA and then headed into Alabama. As we drove toward Montgomery we decided to take a side trip to Tuskegee, AL. We wanted to go check out the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and the Tuskegee University.

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is located at Moton Field Municipal Airport which was the only primary flight facility for African-American pilots during World War II. A scenic overlook that sits above the airport displays signs telling a brief history of the Tuskegee Airmen. It was really neat looking down upon the old airport hangar and watching the active airport. From this scenic overlook you can either walk or drive down to the Hangar #1 Museum to learn about the Tuskegee Airmen.

Here are the displays located at the scenic overlook.

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site uses the coolest space for Hangar #1 Museum. It is incredible! We were blown away by the size of the hangar and the two full-size planes sitting inside. We had a blast checking out all the exhibits. There also is a fun Junior Ranger program here. 

Cadets came from all over the United States to participate in flight training that the United States Air Corps offered to African American men for the first time in 1941. Prior to 1941 African Americans were barred from ever flying in the U.S. military. The War Department refused to integrate the U. S. Air Corps, but they did train the cadets at a segregated army airfield.

The Tuskegee Airmen were trained to fly single-engine planes. It was cool walking into the hangar and seeing two single-engine planes parked there.

We learned about the wings of airplanes, motors and propellers. 

More than 1,000 African American pilots were trained in Tuskegee between the years of 1941-1946. We enjoyed learning about their pilot training. 

Here's the second single-engine plane inside the Hangar #1 Museum.

These kids crack me up! Alyssa is a dork when it comes to taking photos!

Braxton really enjoyed listening to the air traffic control tower.

There also were some awesome personal narratives for the kids to listen to. The kids really enjoyed getting to hear from the actual pilots.

The little ones really enjoyed the exhibit where they could check out the Tuskegee Airmen uniforms and try them on.

We highly recommend a visit to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. It is incredibly educational, interactive and the location is really cool.

No idea what this is, but of course Brax has to try to open it. 
The kid can't resist a door when he sees one.

Love this jet! Braxton and Delaney really wanted to climb inside it.

Our next stop was the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site which is the only national park located on a fully functioning college campus. It is located on the beautiful Tuskegee University grounds. Tuskegee University was founded in a one room shanty on July 4, 1881 by Booker T. Washington. He was a true educator and has intrigued me for years. When I was around 16 years old I read his autobiography, Up From Slavery. It made such an impact on me and my feelings about the injustice of slavery. Back in April my sweet Alyssa also read it. She was so excited to see the Tuskegee University he founded and ran for 34 impressive years.

On a side note: Alyssa, in Hotch's absence, is my navigator when we are on the road. She is also my second hand gal for tons of things like getting her siblings snacks or opening things for them to taking photos of signs as we drive by. After three attempts at trying to photograph the Tuskegee University sign here is her best effort.

There are two main attractions to see while checking out the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site: The Oaks and The George Washington Carver Museum. Booker T. Washington's personal residence on the Tuskegee University campus is called The Oaks. It was built in 1900 and he lived here with his third wife Margaret until his death in 1915. There are free home tours offered only on Saturday and Sundays (10am, 11am, 1pm & 3pm).  We were bummed that we missed the tour by only 30 minutes. 

Booker Taliaferro Washington is shown seated in the middle of this picture with his third wife Margaret James Murray, his sons Ernest Davidson Washington and Booker T Washington Jr and his daughter Portia Washington. His first two wives, Fanny Norton Smith (mother of Portia) and Olivia America Davidson (mother of Ernest & Booker T Jr) both died tragically as young mothers. Almost all of them are buried on campus in the Tuskegee University Historic Cemetery.

The George Washington Carver Museum was closed for renovations when we were there. It should have opened again this summer. This museum contains George Washington Carver's artwork and science experiments. He never married, but spent 47 years teaching science, researching crop rotation and inventing uses for various crops such as peanuts.  George Washington Carver is also buried in the Tuskegee University Historic Cemetery.

We had a great time in Tuskegee, AL and totally recommend making a stop here if you are on your way through Alabama. It is well worth the time!