What Impact?

Aviation started out as an experiment but soon began to have an impact on everyday life. The fantastic adventure of flying entertained St. Louisans in the form of movies, air shows, and young people’s hobbies and toys. Airports grew from isolated fields to sprawling complexes of runways and buildings, bringing not only economic growth but also concerns about the environment and displaced communities. People found new jobs in airmail, air traffic control, and aircraft manufacturing.

Throughout this section of the exhibit, visitors will discover how flight impacted the St. Louis community, through its entertainment, economics, and environment. Families will be able to hop into the back of a 1950s station wagon to watch air shows and planes take off from various airfields, while a Parks P-1 biplane towers overhead. In addition, flight-related toys and artifacts will stir visitors' memories of their own flight experiences.