Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum is a living museum at Ken Jernstedt Airfield in Hood River, Oregon, focused on preserving and operating antique aircraft, automobiles, and other transportation. WAAAM gives you a chance to see a broad range of historic vehicles, with regular action days that bring some of them to life.
- Location: Ken Jernstedt Airfield, Hood River
- Collections: Aircraft, cars, motorcycles, tractors, military jeeps, and engines
- Regular events: Second Saturday action days, generally 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Time to allow: At least one or two hours for an overview
What the Museum Covers
WAAAM preserves, operates, and interprets antique aircraft, automobiles, and other transportation-related artifacts. It opened on September 7, 2007, with 42 aircraft and 20 cars in a 50,000-square-foot building.
The collection spans aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, tractors, military jeeps, and engines. Aircraft examples include the 1917 Curtiss JN-4D Jenny, Piper Cubs, WACOs, Aeroncas, and Stearmans. The car collection includes more than 130 vehicles, among them a 1914 Detroit Electric, Ford Model A and Model T, Packard, Studebaker, and Locomobile.
The two public collection hangars total 95,000 square feet. Three additional hangars, totaling 37,000 square feet, are used for restoration projects, making restoration part of the museum’s work as well as its displays.
How do you get to WAAAM?
WAAAM is at 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, OR 97031, at Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2). From Sunset Motel Hood River, it’s about 2.3 miles and a 10-minute drive; the motel is Sunset Motel, a Hood River motel.
Driving from I-84, take Exit 62 and follow Cascade Avenue. At the second traffic signal, turn onto 13th Street; continue as it joins 12th Street and becomes Tucker Road, then travel 1.5 miles to Air Museum Road.
If you’re flying into Ken Jernstedt Airfield, WAAAM’s directions specify CTAF 122.8 and left traffic for runways 25/7. Park on the north side of the airfield, then walk approximately 300 feet north on Air Museum Road, around the building, to the main entrance.
Collections and Visitor Experience
WAAAM’s collections bring together vehicles from different eras and forms of transport, so you can move from aircraft to road vehicles and machinery within the same visit. The named aircraft and car examples offer a starting point for spotting different models and makers as you browse.
The museum has a gift shop, snacks, a lounge, and restrooms. Wheelchairs and walkers are available first-come, first-served, and pets are not allowed inside. You can use the gift shop without buying museum admission.
Hours, Admission and Events
WAAAM lists public hours as 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, with closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission prices and group rates are published by the museum, but check the official site before you go for current visitor details.
Action days take place monthly. Themes vary through the year, and activities can include operating antique cars, airplanes, and motorcycles. If seeing vehicles in operation is important to your visit, plan around an action day and confirm the schedule before setting out.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9 AM–5 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Allowing Time for Your Visit
Allow at least one or two hours for an overview of the collections. WAAAM cautions that even a day may be too short for enthusiasts who want to see everything, so give yourself more time if you plan to linger over the aircraft, cars, and restoration work.
A practical approach is to start with a broad look at the public collections, then spend extra time with the types of vehicles that interest you most. If you’re choosing a wider Hood River plan, the museum can be one stop in a day that also includes a one-day Hood River itinerary.
FAQs
What does WAAAM stand for?
It is the abbreviation for Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, a museum devoted to preserving, operating, and educating visitors about historic transportation.
Can you visit the gift shop without museum admission?
Yes. WAAAM says the gift shop is open to visitors who have not purchased museum admission.
Are pets allowed inside WAAAM?
No. The museum does not allow pets inside.