Sandpoint, ID

There was barely time to catch our breath after we piled into the car. We all started chatting, exchanging opinions and thoughts about what we had just done. The consensus? Our trip to the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center was worth it, AND worthy of a repeat visit in the future.

Saturday morning we decided to drive out to the museum for a couple of reasons. One, we’d never been there before and had heard about it a few times since it opened last summer. Two, my parents were in town visiting and we knew they’d both be very interested, since my mom was a nurse and my dad was a pilot. But what does that have to do with anything? Let me tell you a bit about the museum.

It is a located primarily in a huge hangar on the Bird Ranch, and hanging from the rafters are airplanes, while below – parked and ready to go – are antique cars. All vehicles – whether plane or car – are operational. Around the perimeter of the hangar museum are various interpretive displays. One section showcases an interactive helicopter demonstration – perfect for the kids, although adults will have fun trying it out, too!

Another corner houses my personal favorite, an iron lung. The volunteer on duty that day showed us how it works and turned it on to demonstrate. It was eerily strange watching that great machine at work, knowing it had been created to save lives. Along another wall is a display of model army equipment, as well as a NASA display featuring the only Hubble Space Telescope model.

In a separate room, known as the Invention Center, we viewed various items – from kitty litter to Cabbage Patch dolls to computers to medical equipment – as well as their inventor’s portraits and a brief synopsis of the inventor and item. Our favorite find in this room was the signed Apple laptop – this was Steve Wozniak’s personal computer donated to the museum.

Above the Invention Center is a space dedicated to the inventions of Dr. Forrest Bird himself. This display center showcases the medical respirator, which had a huge impact in the medical industry worldwide. From this second story you can also look down over the museum below…this is a great view!!

As we left the museum we had a chance to talk with Dr. Forrest and Dr. Pamela Bird. They offered a very warm welcome , excited we had come. Mrs. Bird shared their vision of the museum with us, and they were both quick to point out their appreciation of the volunteers’ efforts. Their enthusiasm and passion bubbled over, and I can’t think of a better way to end our visit at the museum and invention center than speaking with the inventors themselves! It brought it all full circle for us.

In the end, my (pilot) father was pleased with all the airplanes, and my (nurse) mother was intrigued by the medical respirators, especially the Babybird. My husband found the Apple computer exciting, and my toddler daughter loved the seeing the bison that ambled across the road as we left the ranch. And me? My favorite thing, besides the iron lung, was the crystal-laid mirror hung in the women’s bathroom. Ladies, this is worth checking out!

The museum is open Monday through Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM mid-May through mid-October. It is handicap accessible and stroller friendly. There are restrooms on the premises (but no baby changing station), as well as a café. However, the café was not open when we visited…I think it might only be open during the week. They did let me sit in there and feed my daughter her lunch I had brought, which was really nice. Oh, and there is a nice gift shop next to the café as well.

Incredibly, there is no admission fee for the museum, although donations are accepted. I still can’t believe that such a nice museum is free!!! And by the way, the Birds and their volunteers are all very friendly and accommodating. The volunteer met us in the parking area and took us inside to give us an overview and introduction, before we wandered off on our own.

To get to the museum from Sandpoint, head south on 95. Turn left (east) on Sagle road and go about 12 miles to the Bird Ranch Road on your left. Follow the drive (it’s very long) all the way to the top. And don’t worry…when you come to the gate it will automatically open. There is no parking lot, per se, but plenty of space to park. And the signage directing you to the museum is very good. I don’t think there’s a chance of getting lost. It’s a bit of a drive, but well worth it!

This is a truly unique experience. I wish I could go into more details here about why the museum was founded and the history of the Birds. Instead, I would like to direct you to the museum’s website for additional information: www.birdaviationmuseum.com