Purposes & Goals of the New Facility

Our Air, Land and Sea History and Technology Center is being developed by RI Aviation Hall of Fame, Inc. (RIAHOF) to become an economic, educational and recreational community resource. Our approach will be to use Narragansett Bay’s exciting aviation and naval history as the framework for generating those benefits while simultaneously preserving this heritage. We believe ships and planes excite young minds, and through educational and job training programs we can have a strong positive affect on these leaders of tomorrow.

As one of the means of accomplishing that goal, RIAHOF will continue to recognize and honor individuals and organizations whose contributions to our heritage can act as signposts for our future.

Informing and educating the public about aviation and maritime past, combined with providing tools for future success, will go a long way toward accomplishing this mission.

Here are some of the things we can do to achieve our goals:

• Become an economic engine, creating jobs and generating economic impact;
• Motivate students through innovative programming, providing them with useful skills and experiences to help them become productive members of society;
• Develop a significant math and science center, a living laboratory for cutting-edge computer technology and virtual reality;
• Become a true community resource: a safe haven for children, a vocational training center, and an important family recreation and entertainment destination and a facility for major special events;

Historic preservation actions include:

• Collect and display materials and artifacts associated with the aviation and naval history of Narragansett Bay and the region;
• Restore to operational condition artifacts of significance, such as vintage aircraft, so they can be observed in the historical environment and context their builders and users intended;
• Provide a suitable facility for displaying, maintaining (and restoring as necessary) our collection, and provide maximum public access to the collection and related programming;
• Develop exhibits to show what life was like during periods covered by the exhibits.