The Fort Vancouver National Trust announce, the closure of Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, Wash. Operated on contract with the city of Vancouver by the Trust for the past eight (8) years, the museum at 1115 E. Fifth St. offered the public a glimpse into the Golden Age of Aviation history from the early 20th Century. Open Wednesday through Saturday, the museum featured fifteen (15) historic planes, a gift shop and Flight Simulator Lab. The museum facility hosted over 100 community events during the year and was supported by over fifty (50) volunteers investing over 6,000 hours at the museum.
The closure is the result of an unresolved dispute with the National Parks Service regarding park use policy. Trust administrators were asked on Monday to turn over keys to the museum to the park service, today. “Because air museum aircraft exhibits are either owned by the Trust or on loan to the Trust, it was not feasible for us to turn this property over to the National Park Service,” said Elson Strahan, Trust President and CEO.
On Tuesday, Trust staff and volunteers removed planes, gift shop items and other exhibits from the Pearson Air Museum hangar. These items have been stored, Strahan said.
The Trust will be contacting volunteers and contributors to determine how best to move the air museum program forward. www.pearsonairmuseum.org