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Major Air Force museum located at Wimer Robins
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ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE
ln 1982. an aviation museum
in Warner Rohins was only a
dream in the minds of a few
ardent believers. Today the dream
is alive on 43 acres adjacent to
Robins Air Force Base where 90
historic aircraft and missiles
proudly rest in tribute lo the thou
sands of U.S. Air Force men and
women who served the nation to
defend freedom.
The Museum is a place which
beckons young and old visitors
alike more than half a million
during 1997 to learn about
great aircraft, significant eras in
aviation history and famous
Georgians who blazed aviation
trails in the sky.
What began in old World War
II storage huts is now a world
class $25 million facility with
more than 170.(XX) square feel of
indoor exhibit space in four large
buildings.
The main three-story building
which opened in 1992 is shaped
like the Air Force "Star and Bars"
insignia. A breathtaking circular
rotunda greets visitors who
immediately see an F-15 Eagle
fighter beneath two World War II
training planes suspended from
the 30-foot high ceiling. Life-size
photo murals on the walls depict
Robins Air Force Base flight line
hangars where fighters, trans
ports. and helicopters arc repaired
and modified by “Team Robins”
base employees.
Exhibits lake you back in time
to an American “Flying
Tigers” airfield in China in 1943
where a P-40 Warhawk readies
for its next mission, to India
where U.S. C-47 transports flew
over “the Hump” (Himalayan
Mountain peaks rising to 25.000
feet) in the 1940s to resupply
American troops fighting for
China; to a Korean flight line
revetment with a F-84
Take a walking tour of beautiful historic Perry
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Times Journal Staff
Perry has some fascinating
piaecs to visit during your stay/
The New Perry Hotel, located
al 8(X) Main Street, is known far
and wide fdr its great southern
food dishes served in its restau
rant.
The hotel was built as Cox’s
Inn in the 1850s as a stop for
stage coaches. The name was
changed to Perry Hotel in the
1870s.
The old hotel was tom down
and anew one was put in its place
in 1924; thus, the name, New
Perry Hotel.
The hotel is known for its
coffee shop. The menu is strictly
traditional southern, and the
tables feature linen clothes and
fresh cut flowers. The coffee shop
is open for all three meals daily.
The business has been owned
and operated by the Green Family
since 1944.
Watson-Hut Funeral Home at
1208 Main Itreet, was originally
the family home of Judge Samuel
D Killcn. It was built in 1852.
The home was sold to the
Francis Marion King family, who
occupied the dwelling until 1926.
It was then sold to Penn Dixie
Cement Company and used as a
Welcome to
Perry, Ga.
American
Legionnaires!
We’re proud you chose
our town!
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GROWTH This aerial shot shows how the on-site displays. There is no admission charge to the
Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base has museum. The main building is center, front, and
grown during recent years with new buildings and includes the Air Force insignia on the roof.
Thunderjet: and to a W’W'II air
field with a powerful P-47
Thunderbolt ready for takeoff.
The museum is the home of
the Georgia Aviation Hall of
Fame where the feats and memo
rabilia of famous Georgia pio
neer aviators arc displayed
Those enshrined include Ben
Epps Sr., the first person to fly in
Georgia; Jacques Bullard, the
world's first black military pilot;
Bessie Coleman, first licensed
black pilot in American; pioneer
women aviators like Jackie
Cochran and Hazel Raines; and
Georgia TOPGUN Navy fighter
pilot and astronaut Sonny Carter.
club house.
In 1955, the building was
bought and restored by 'ardner
Watson for a funeral home. It is
presently owned and operated by
Iraper Watson and Riley Hunt.
The Houston County Board
of Education Office is also locat
ed on Main Itreet in the ll(X)
block.
This building was formerly
Perry High Schoool. built in
1925.
It has undergone major reno
vation in recent years, thanks
largely to former students who
attended school in this building in
the past.
The restored building opened
to board offices in November ,
1995. The building features a
museum of education memorabil
ia as well as collected papers and
other items from former U.S.
Senator Sam Nunn. He was a
member of the class of 1956, the
last class to graduate from the
school.
A walk down Carroll Street in
the downtown area is a treat,
offering many unique gift items
and a pleasant atmosphere. The
Houston Times-Joumai, Houston
County’s oldest business (and
publisher of this guide) is located
directly across the street from the
ft THE
lIBANK OF PERRY//
A special exhibit salutes Macon's own WWII
"ace" retired Brig. Gen. Robert L Scott Jr., author of
the 1943 best seller "God is My Co-Pilot." The gen
eral can be seen daily at the museum where he
greets visitors with a cheerful wink and a story or
two from his 60 years of flying.
A special exhibit salutes
Macon's own WWII "ace retired
Brig. Gen. Robert I. Scott Jr .
author of the 1943 best seller
"God is My Co-Pilot."
The general can be seen daily
at the museum where he greets
visitors with a cheerful wink and
Houston County Courthouse.
Next door is Jones Surveying
The building was formerly
Houston County Bank and the
U.S. Post Office. Thi>. is one of
three buildings along Carroll
Street with the original lacade
The Swift Street Inn at 1204
Swift Street was built in 1857 by
Judge William Tyre Iwift
SSS Tonic was first manufac
tured in the back yard by his son.
Charles T. Swill, according to his
torians.
The building was purchased
by J. Meade Tolleson. Sr. in 1929.
Visit the
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OF ANDERSONVILLE
DRUMMER BOY CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
2 RESTAURANTS * PIONEER FARM
ANTIQUES & CIVIL WAR COLLECTIBLES
HWY. 49 NEAR ANDERSONVILLE
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
DON’T MISS MEMORABLE MACON COUNTY!
From Amish Mennonite country, through historic downtown Montezuma to
Andersonville National Historic Site, there’s so much to see!
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P.O. Box 308, Montezuma, GA 31063; (912) 472-2391 • e-mail: chamber@corinthian.net; www.corinthian net/mccc
a story or two from his 60 years ol
flying Last year at the age of 89
he flew on a B-IB bomber.
Smithsonian films, “To Fly"
and "Flyers,” arc shown hourly
on a large 30-foot-high screen. An
aviation gift shop is stocked with
unique souvenirs lor toddlers.
This lamily remained in residence
there for the next 40 years.
It was then purchased and
restored by Lew M Meeks, a for
mer mayor of Perry. In 1989 it
began operating as a bed and
breakfast inn, under the manag
ment of Wayne and Jane Coward.
The current owners are Carolyn
and Dennis Lovejoy.
For more information on Perry,
be sure to visit or call the Perry
Convention and Visitors Center,
located at 101 General Courtney
Hodges Blvd.. or call 987-B(XX).‘
model builders, ladies and people
who just love airplanes.
The museum is a "living histo
ry” facility with numerous semi
nars, classes and activities for stu
dents, teachers and interns and a
historical archive and research
library.
Aviation, , math and science
classes arc held to leach young
sters about the theory and basics
of flight. A Young Astronauts Day
is held each spring and science,
math and history teachers are
given credit for periodic three
day learning programs.
A Georgia Youth Science and
Technology Center, a STAR
BASE ROBINS sth Grade
Academy and other on-site edu
cational programs reach more
than S().(XX) Georgia youngsters
each year. Daily aviation pro
grams are held for school class
es.
The 66,000 square-foot
Century of Flight hangar houses
some famous aircraft like the
world-spced-rccord-holder SR-71
Blackbird, U-2 Dragon Lady. B-
Spaciol Photo
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FIRST DISPLAY This display of an F-15 fighter plane greets visi
tors to the main building of the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air
Force Base.
nrnmi Convention &
gjlrnllT Bureau
101 Gen. Courtney Hodges Blvd.
988-8000
A visit to the Andersonville National Historic Site and
the newly opened and acclaimed National Prisoner of
War Museum would not be complete without a stop in
Montezuma-the town that was nearly drowned by
Mk Flood of ‘94, but has come back more beautiful
26k than ever! Enjoy a leisurely walk through our
frffigK recently restored downtown area. Stop by
UnW Phoebe DeVaughn’s Original Art Studio
and Studdard’s Antiques in the historic
R-L aP railroad depot. Choose from
dfljr a variety of dining choices including old
fashioned southern cooking and delicious
barbecue. Visit the famous Yoder Deitsch
Haus Restaurant and bakery and the Yoder
.. - * gift shop, and take a drive through Macon
County’s Amish Mennonite Country.
Discover the many homes spared during the
Civil War on the Historic Homes Driving Tour.
Stay the night at our new Day’s Inn or one of our
other motels.
Wed., July 15, 1998, Haumm Timm-Jauaml
Greetings,
Legionnaires!
We’re proud that you
chose Perry for your
80th Annual
Convention, and we
hope you’ll come
back soon!
29. F- 104. F- 105. F-86. and P-51.
The hangar is also home to the
Mission Quest Flight Simulation
Center where students learn about
flight and experience Air Force
non-combat mission in state-of
the-art simulators.
The "We The People" Theater
and Exhibit Hall features a free
22-minute video presentation on
the U.S. Constitution and show
cases the contributions of former
Senator Sam Nunn and other dis
tinguished Congressional and
national leaders from Georgia.
Other exhibits include
"Windows To a Distant Past”
about Native America history,
"America’s Black Eagles," and
the 483rd Bomb Group which
flew B-I7s from Italy in WWII.
Located seven miles east of I
-75 exit 45 at the intersection of
Ga. 247 and Russell Parkway, the
museum is open daily from 9 a.m.
until 5 p.m except Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year’s Day.
There is no admission charge.
For more information call (912)
926-6870.
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