Pearson Field was established in 1905, making it one of the oldest continuously operating airfields in the country.
In 1937, a Soviet Tupolev ANT-25 aircraft landed here after completing the first nonstop transpolar flight from Moscow to Vancouver.
The airfield is located within the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which contains a former Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post.
During the early 20th century, the site served as an important hub for the U.S. Army's Spruce Production Division during World War I.
The hangar architecture reflects the style of mid-20th-century aviation support structures built for military use.
Pearson Air Museum is located on the historic Pearson Field, one of the oldest operating airfields in the United States. The facility is housed in a large, historic hangar that showcases the evolution of aviation in the Pacific Northwest. Exhibits feature vintage aircraft, including replicas of early flight machines and historical military planes. It serves as part of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, connecting visitors to the region's long history of flight innovation. The museum documents the 1905 arrival of the first aircraft at this location and the 1937 flight of the first nonstop transpolar flight from Moscow to Vancouver. Displays include a restored 1930s-era hangar environment that provides context for the artifacts. The museum complex maintains a connection to the ongoing operations of the adjacent active airfield.
The hangar entrance framing the vintage aircraft with the active runway visible through the background windows.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Fort Vancouver site to see the reconstructed 19th-century fur trading post.
Check the active runway schedule outside the museum; you can often watch small private planes taking off and landing at Pearson Field.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the hangar floor is expansive and the nearby historic sites require significant walking.
Do not wander onto the active runway or taxiways of the airfield, as these are restricted areas for aircraft movement.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Maintain a respectful distance from aircraft displays and follow all posted signs regarding touching artifacts.
