Los Angeles, CA

Museum of Flying

EIN 23-7412316

Arts, Culture & Heritage Museums & Visual Arts

Mission

To receive contributions of funds and historical material connected with the development and advancement of aviation for the preservation and exhibition of such material for educational purposes.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About Museum of Flying

The Museum of Flying is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation museum based at the Santa Monica Airport serving the Los Angeles area. Founded in 1974 (originally as the Douglas Museum and Library) and re-housed in its current facility in 1989, the museum preserves and interprets the history of flight with an emphasis on Southern California aerospace heritage and the Douglas Aircraft legacy. The organization operates public exhibits (including the California Aviation Hall of Fame), education and group-tour programs, simulator experiences, and special events to engage students, aviation professionals, and the public. The museum remains donor-facing and active in annual reporting; its site currently posts a temporary closure due to flooding while it works to address facility damage and restore public operations.

Notable achievements

Established aviation collection and museum operations (1974; new facility 1989)

Originally founded as the Douglas Museum and Library in 1974, the institution expanded and opened the renamed Museum of Flying in a new Santa Monica Airport building in 1989, building a long-running public collection focused on Douglas Aircraft and WWII-era aircraft.

Home of the California Aviation Hall of Fame

The museum houses the California Aviation Hall of Fame and displays artifacts, images, and biographies honoring California aviation pioneers and industry leaders, providing an ongoing platform for recognition and public education.

Operational recovery and program relaunch (2022–2024)

In the last few years the museum relaunched group-tour programming (noted in 2024 materials), resumed public-facing simulator and visitor offerings on a limited basis, and returned to positive net income on its most recent year of filed Form 990 after pandemic-era fluctuations.

At a glance

Total assets: $1.4M
Annual revenue: $605K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 23-7412316
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Website: www.museumofflying.org
On Mahalo since: April 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Recognized as a tax-exempt public charity (501(c)(3)) with federal EIN 23-7412316 and a continuous tax-exempt history since the 1970s.

Maintains annual Form 990 public filings and financial disclosures reflecting revenue, expenses, and assets for recent fiscal years.

Longstanding local cultural presence and participation in regional museum and community programming, including listings with local business and museum directories.

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