Empire State Aerosciences Museum

I feel like some people don’t always appreciate museums in Upstate New York. Many don’t see it as a popular tourist destination. However I would say that anyone that doesn’t stop by here is missing out.

I visit this museum back in 2021 for my bachelor party. It had been on my bucket list for quite some time. It’s a museum full of not only common aircraft that is typical of your average aviation museum, but also rare/one of a kind aircraft you can’t see anywhere else in the U.S.

They have a rare F3D Skyknight along with the only British Scimitar in the US. They also have an F-5; painted to look like a “MiG-28” that was actually used in filming Top Gun. The collection also includes MiGs, a T-2 Buckeye, and a RA-5C Vigilante.

While I have seen many of these planes before, these aren’t ones that are commonly found inside Upstate New York.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for aviation history in Upstate New York.

They have a good collection of vintage aircraft and some very knowledgeable tour guides.

I've lived in the area most of my life and hadn't visited until recently. Had a great time with my family. Exhibits on Malta rocket testing, WWII bombers, Adirondack seaplanes, experimental aircraft, and many Cold War Era aircraft on display. All the museum volunteers and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend visiting!

For a very reasonable cost ($6 senior, $8 adult), this is an excellent walk through air power history with historical displays of civil and military aspects, space program, Pearl Harbor attack with 30 ft. scale model of Japanese aircraft carrier and about 20 retired Navy and Air Force aircraft. Could spend an entire afternoon with this.

Impressive museum! I never would have known how important this area was to aviation history. Outside of the exhibits, the graveyard was especially cool and really shows the history of fighter aircraft. Lastly, walking inside the C-130 was cool as well.