Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum

Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is an aviation museum housing over 20 vintage military aircraft displayed in a preserved World War II hangar at Cape May Airport. The exhibits span multiple decades and conflicts, showing the development of military aviation technology.

The facility began in 1943 as Naval Air Station Rio Grande but changed its name due to postal delivery complications. The renamed location later became a museum preserving the aviation heritage from the era when such bases were central to military operations.

The collection reflects how American military aviation evolved through different conflicts, with each aircraft telling a story about the people who flew and maintained them. Visitors experience how these machines shaped military history and the nation's defense.

The museum is located within Cape May Airport grounds and operates on a daily schedule that welcomes families. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes for walking between the exhibits, and the hangar provides a climate-controlled environment for browsing at your own pace.

Inside Hangar 1, visitors can see a World War II R-2800 aircraft engine that was recovered from the ocean and donated to the museum. This recovered engine provides a tangible link to wartime operations at sea and the salvage efforts that preserve aviation history.

Location: New Jersey

Inception: 1997

Website: http://usnasw.org

GPS coordinates: 39.00420,-74.90830

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00