Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

Emmaline Hoffmeister June 12, 2012 Travels

Somewhere in Nebraska … we later discovered we were in Ashland, Nebraska.

You know those road trip moments where the GPS says “just keep driving,” but the kids in the back are not on board with that plan? That was us somewhere on I-80, chugging along toward Iowa to pick up our brand-new travel trailer, when we spotted a sign: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.

Cue the chorus of “Ooooh!” from the backseat.

We didn’t have it on our itinerary, but how do you say no to giant rockets and airplanes when you’re already dreaming about travel adventures? So, we made a split-second decision—off the freeway we went!

When we rolled into the parking lot, we discovered the museum had already closed for the day (cue the sad trombone 🎺), but that didn’t stop us. There was a massive rocket standing tall right outside, and that alone was worth the detour.

Rhett and the kids at the base of the rocket at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. — Look close, Rhett and the boys are at the base of the rocket.

After hours in the truck, the kids were more than ready to leap out and explore, if we’d let them! They ran circles around the rocket, marveled at its size while stretching road-weary legs. Honestly, watching them run and laugh in the shadow of that rocket was almost as good as anything we could’ve seen inside.

We didn’t get inside the museum that day, but we did make a memory: a little slice of Americana, a big piece of space-age history, and a parking lot that turned into our own personal launch pad for imagination. 🚀

Next time, we’ll check the hours. But for this trip? The spontaneous stop was just perfect.

About the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum: The 300,000 sq. ft. SAC Aerospace Museum will ignite the thrill of discovery and innovation in guests of all ages. Established in 1959, the original mission of the museum commemorated the contributions of the Strategic Air Command, which was headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base until 1992. Upon completion of a new indoor facility, the museum moved to its current location in 1998 and today houses an impressive collection of military aircraft and space artifacts, many of which have been restored in the museum’s on-site restoration facility. A wide range of traveling exhibits, permanent exhibits and special events provide unique experiences for museum guests.

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
28210 W. Park Hwy.
Ashland, NE 68003

Author: Emmaline Hoffmeister

Emmaline Hoffmeister is the author of eight historical fiction novels and has published nine short stories in various publications worldwide. Left Behind marks Emmaline’s debut in Christian fiction and her first novel in over a decade. With degrees in accounting and psychology from Central Washington University and Brigham Young University-Idaho, Emmaline built a 12-year career as a fraud investigator, as well as an accountability, legal compliance, financial, and performance auditor. She later chose to become a stay-at-home mom, focusing on raising her two sons. In 2009, she launched her writing and publishing career. A lover of story, structure, and scenic places, Emmaline’s creativity is shaped by her travels and by the rugged beauty of North Idaho, where she now lives with her husband and two sons. When she’s not designing or writing, you’ll likely find her walking along the rivers and lakes near home, dreaming up new ideas with a journal in hand.