Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, Monroe LA
By Mila Arias, Meet Monroe
Free admission. The building looks modest from the outside, and that is the first thing you need to know.
Most people expect something small and end up spending hours. The museum covers more than 10,000 square feet across eight exhibit rooms, plus an outdoor Aviation Park with seven restored aircraft. Entry is always free. It sits on Kansas Lane in Monroe, in the last remaining classroom building of Selman Field Navigation School, the largest navigation school in the United States during World War II.
The Flying Tigers and Delta Airlines: Two Stories in One Museum
General Claire Lee Chennault was from Louisiana. Before the United States entered World War II, he recruited and trained a group of American volunteer pilots to defend China against Japanese air attacks. They flew P-40 Warhawks with shark mouths painted on the nose and became known as the Flying Tigers. The museum holds the world's largest collection of Chennault artifacts, and the exhibit is bilingual, based on his 1949 autobiography "The Way of a Fighter."
The other story this museum tells, which almost no one outside the region knows: Delta Air Lines started as a Louisiana crop-dusting operation. The Biedenharn Room traces that history from small agricultural flights to one of the largest airlines in the world. It is one of those facts that changes how you think about a place. Monroe has more of these free institutions than most visitors realize. The full list of free things to do in Monroe is worth keeping if you are planning a day out.
What to See at Chennault Aviation Museum
The outdoor Aviation Park has seven aircraft you can get close to: a DC-3 that served as an early Delta Airlines flagship, a P-40 Warhawk model (the Flying Tigers fighter), an F-86 Sabre that held world speed records for six years, a MiG-15, an A-7B Corsair II, an OH-6 Cayuse helicopter from Vietnam, and an MR-18 light bomber Chennault used in China.
Inside, the museum covers WWI through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in separate rooms. Medals, uniforms, letters, videos, and personal effects donated by local families. Volunteers give informal tours and will occasionally take artifacts out of their cases so you can handle them and hear the stories behind specific items.
There is also a moon rock on display that visitors can hold.
Flight Simulators, Veterans Services, and Education Programs
The museum has two flight simulators: an FAA-certified simulator and a VR Hump Flight Simulator. Field trips for school groups are available, and the museum runs STEAM-based scavenger hunts for kids. There is a research library on site and an oral history program in partnership with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
For veterans: the museum hosts monthly peer support groups for combat vets, non-combat vets, first responders, and families in both Monroe and Ruston. A Veterans Closet provides free hygiene items, clothing, and professional attire for veterans and their families. A DAV chapter based at the museum provides van transport to the VA in Jackson, MS and has secured significant benefits for local veterans.
RV travelers: the museum is a Harvest Hosts member, which means eligible RVers can stay overnight on site.
WhenTue-Sat, 9 AM to 4 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.
CostFree. Guided tours available at no charge (first-come, first-served).
Where701 Kansas Ln, Monroe · (318) 362-5540 · chennaultmuseum.org
More things to do in Monroe worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was General Chennault?
General Claire Lee Chennault was a Louisiana native and WWII military commander who led the Flying Tigers, a group of American volunteer pilots defending China against Japanese air attacks before the United States officially entered the war. The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, LA holds the world's largest collection of his artifacts.
What were the Flying Tigers?
The Flying Tigers were American volunteer pilots recruited and trained by General Claire Lee Chennault to defend China against Japan during World War II. They flew P-40 Warhawks with shark mouths painted on the nose and became one of the most recognized fighter units in WWII history. The Chennault Museum in Monroe has a bilingual exhibit based on Chennault's 1949 autobiography, The Way of a Fighter.
Is Chennault Aviation Museum free?
Yes. Admission is always free, including guided tours on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
What was Selman Field?
Selman Field was the largest navigation school in the United States during World War II, located in Monroe, Louisiana. The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum is housed in the last remaining classroom building from the school. The museum also traces how Delta Air Lines originated as a Louisiana crop-dusting operation before becoming one of the world's largest airlines.
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