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The Museum's Permanent Collection
Arkansas Air and Military Museum has a little over 2,000 artifacts. These artifacts range from small personal items all the way to 40-foot-long aircraft. If you have a question about any artifacts that are below or not below please reach out to the curator Hallie Cartwright (cartwrighth.aamm@gmail.com).
If you would like a private tour of our collection please contact Hallie to schedule.


Artifact Friday - Antonov AN-2
For a short time only, we have acquired a very peculiar part of history. The Antonov AN-2 stands proudly as the largest single engine biplane ever produced with an upper wingspan of 59ft 9in and a length of 40ft 8in. Originally designed in 1947 by the Antonov Design Bureau, the AN-2 was meant for use as a utility aircraft for forestry and agriculture. The Antonov Design Bureau was tasked by the Soviet Union to manufacture a plane that with high load capacity and reliability.


Artifact Friday - Air Force Pilot Wings
Although we are late to celebrate the United States Air Force’s birthday, September 18th , we are just in time to celebrate September...


Artifact Friday: Type 14 Nambu Pistol
Throughout World War II and many wars before and after, it has been customary for a surrendering officer to offer their pistol to the...


Artifact Friday: East German Officer's Uniform
Upon the end of World War II, Germany was divided in half. West Germany became subject to the big players of the Allied powers; France,...


Artifact Friday: Kuwait Liberation Medal
The events leading up to the Gulf War are far too complex to cover in a short article. To put it simply, the greed of Iraq’s leader,...


Artifact Friday: M1 Carbine
It is commonly considered among World War II historians that the weapon that won the war was not something so grand as the nuclear bomb...


Artifact Friday: Type 32 Ko Cavalry Saber
To maintain this week’s theme of rodeos, today we have a cavalry saber. This sword was originally made in Japan and adopted by the...


Artifact Friday: West Point Keys
On the 27th of January, 1778, the Connecticut Militia crossed the frozen Hudson River and established a camp that they named Fort Arnold,...


Artifact Friday: Type 97 Machine Gun
Among our vast collection of weapons and artifacts is one that American soldiers and marines once feared. The Type 97 machine gun once...


Artifact Friday: Aircraft Spotter Book
The months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor consisted of various delaying actions by the United States Pacific Fleet. The...


Artifact Friday: 82nd Airborne Compass
As we all know, D-Day, June 6th , 1944, marked the turning point for the war in Europe. To this day, the Storming of Normandy stands as...


Artifact Friday: Italian WWII Helmet
Perhaps the most famous military event in World War II, or possibly any war, is the invasion of Normandy, D-Day, that took place on June...


Artifact Friday: Folded Flag
If you’ve ever seen a folded United States flag on someone’s mantle or anywhere else in their home, you likely already know that they had...


Artifact Friday: Luftwaffe Dagger (Second Model)
At the beginning of World War One, the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (German Air Combat Forces) had arguably one of the best air force...


Artifact Friday – Pierce McKennon's Letter
Today we have the letter sent by a pilot, Pierce W. McKennon, to his mother. Pierce was born and raised as an Arkansas native and...


Artifact Friday: Jack Adams Lowball Glasses
Pilots have always been an interesting group. One could assume it simply comes with the territory. But, of the many pilots in history,...


Artifact Friday: Checkpoint Charlie Mug
It’s a strange feeling, looking back and seeing our sworn enemies as allies. Throughout the Cold War, the two global powers challenged...


Artifact Friday: Field Alter Kit
Wars tend not to care about your schedule, let alone your weekend plans. Such has been the case for nearly all of human history. With...


Artifact Friday: Hara-Kiri Knife
Trigger Warning: This blog discusses tough topics, such as suicide. Due to the speed and urgency that Japan modernized with in the late...


Artifact Friday: Thunderbird Flight Helmet
In honor of Women's History Month, we are celebrating the service of Dr. Charla Morgan. The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron is among the...


Artifact Friday: Captured Nazi Flag
Artifact Friday: The 349th Field Artillery and a Captured Nazi Flag This week’s Artifact Friday shines a light on a significant piece of...
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