The details
A funding agreement was met between the city and Journey of Flight Inc. for $500,000 for the design of the museum during the San Antonio City Council A Session on May 15.
The museum and learning center is intended to celebrate the history of the United States Air Force in San Antonio, introduce careers in flight to local students and welcome tourists.
The Airman Heritage Museum will be located next to the Parade Field at Lackland Air Force Base. The Aerospace Learning Center will be located on the runway at Port San Antonio, near the new Boeing Center. The two facilities will be linked by a shuttle, according to agenda documents.
The background
The museum and learning center are currently in the planning stages, which has a $2 million total budget. Funding granted from the city will be used toward detailed facility and operational planning of the project.
The project has been underway for two years, with sites secured at no cost from an Educational Partnership Agreement with the Air Force and a Memorandum of Understanding with Port San Antonio. It is anticipated that the design phase will be complete by fall 2026, and a groundbreaking can be held within two years.
The funding was allocated from the city’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget. Journey Flight Inc. was formed in 2022, when several groups came together to form the Heritage and Learning Center Foundation, according to agenda documents.
Quote of note
“In Military City, USA, it’s important to offer an inclusive space that honors the city’s rich history in aviation,” District 4 council member Adriana Rocha Garcia said in the news release. “With this funding, we are one step closer to creating a welcoming space for visitors from across the globe and inspiring youth to explore San Antonio’s legendary past and visionary future in aerospace and military service.”
