Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum
There is a museum of the aviation history of Grand County at the Terminal Building. It is open by appointment. http://grandcountyhistory.org/museums/emily-warner-field-aviation-museum/
The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum opened in July 2015. Located in a room of the former Rocky Mountain Airways airline terminal of Granby/Grand County Airport, the museum’s displays, photographs and artifacts tell the fascinating story of flying in Grand County.
One exhibit in the small, free museum is the Granby Airport Pioneers Wall of Fame. The Wall honors the local citizen volunteers who in the 1930s began the airport and continued to volunteer their time and talent to improve and maintain the community airport.A second exhibit is the local military aviation section. This display documents the important local, historic connections of famed aviator, Charles Lindbergh & the Knight Ranch airfield (under Granby Lake), as well as President Eisenhower, a pilot, and frequent visitor to Fraser.Other local military pilots are examined: WWII US Army Air Cadet, Robert Polhamus, Grand County’s war first casualty; the late Chuck Orlusky of Fraser, who painted WWII B-29 nose art; and other Grand County military pilots.
A unique donation to view at the museum is a set of aviation cuff links owned by famed aviator, Howard Hughes.
A third section of the small museum is dedicated to the history of Rocky Mountain Airways (RMA). Exhibit items include the personal reflections and baggage claim tag for the first flight on July 20, 1973 (donated by the Nesbitt-Stull family). Adjacent is the RMA Captain’s jacket of Ed Belding, the pilot of that first flight (see photo). RMA route information, original time table for scheduled flights and costs are framed for museum visitors to view and appreciate.he landing of Rocky Mountain Airways first flight on July 20, 1973 at Granby/Grand County Airport. Photograph from Nesbitt-Stull family.The airport building at 1023 County Road 610 in Granby was the original airline terminal for Rocky Mountain Airways (RMA). Built in 1973, it notably is modeled after the Vail Bell Tower. The RMA terminal was built by the Dell Webb Corporation which also developed the Innsbruck/Silver Creek Ski Area of Granby.
Many historic artifacts and information about Emily Warner are on display. In 1976, Warner became America’s first, female airline captain. She also developed Ouray Ranch on the Colorado River near Granby, and lived in Grand County for over 25 years.In addition to these displays, the museum is adding artifacts and stories weekly to the exhibits.
Please contact The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum to add your aviation story, photos or artifacts!Visit Emily Warner Field Aviation.
MuseumDirections from Fraser or Winter Park: Travel west on Highway 40. As you get into Granby and go over the bridge, turn right onto 6th St. Turn right onto E Garnet Ave. Turn left onto 11th St. Turn right onto Co Rd 610 and continue about 0.3 miles to the Granby/Grand County Airport.Directions from Hot Sulphur Springs or Kremmling: Travel east on Highway 40. Continue through downtown Granby, and just before the bridge, turn left onto 6th St. Turn right onto E Garnet Ave. Turn left onto 11th St. Turn right onto Co Rd 610 and continue about 0.3 miles to the Granby/Grand County Airport.
Open: 11am-2pm Friday and Saturday (Summer Only, or by appointment)Admission: FreeLocation: Granby Airport, 1023 County Road, Granby, CO 80446. Phone: 970-531-1100970-531-1100 or 970-725-3939970-725-3939Email: ewfam@grandcountyhistory.org
