HILL AFB, Utah -- A project that began 10 years ago is finally coming to an end, as the Hill Aerospace Museum is set to open its newest addition, the Alexander Hall and the L.S. Skaggs Gallery.
The new gallery is a 91,000 square foot hangar will provide more indoor space to better preserve the museum’s outdoor aircraft and develop new exhibits. The gallery, which accounts for a 70 percent increase in indoor exhibition space, opens to the public May 2.
“The goal to realize this expansion has taken 10 years and we are thrilled to see it finally complete,” said Museum Director Aaron Clark. “Now built, this new gallery affords us the incredible opportunity to expand on the storylines highlighting Utah’s and Hill Air Force Base’s rich aviation history for decades to come.
Clark said the new space will not only allow the museum to better care for its artifacts but will also provide opportunities to bring more aircraft into the collection, such as the U-2 Dragon Lady and F-22 Raptor.
The museum hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony April 29 to celebrate the upcoming opening. Many of the key figures involved in the project gave remarks.
“Our third gallery would not have occurred without the incredible support and donations from the State of Utah, its citizens, our foundation, and a myriad of private organizations,” Clark said. “This museum is about the community, and the community made this expansion happen. Nothing could be more fitting.”