Castle Air Museum

The Castle Air Museum is an aviation museum located on the grounds of the former Castle Air Force Base near Atwater, California. It opened as a nonprofit collection in 1981 and preserves a large number of military aircraft and related equipment.

The site features an extensive outdoor aircraft park with more than 60 military airframes on display, including large bombers and jet fighters from mid-20th century U.S. military aviation. Exhibits are largely outdoors on former ramps and taxiways, with indoor hangar space used for restoration and smaller displays.

The museum was established by volunteers and aviation enthusiasts in 1981 to preserve military aircraft associated with Castle AFB and similar airfields. It occupies part of the former base and maintains restoration facilities to preserve and display its collection.

The museum sits adjacent to Castle Airport in Atwater in California’s San Joaquin Valley, on the former Castle Air Force Base property. It is in Merced County, a short drive northwest of the city of Merced.

• Collection size: The collection comprises more than 60 military aircraft spanning World War II through the Cold War and later eras.
• On-airfield display: Located directly on the former Castle Air Force Base airfield, much of the display is outdoors so dress for sun or wind and expect walking between exhibits.

What to See #

• Outdoor aircraft park: Covers a large outdoor aircraft park sited on former taxiways and ramp areas where most of the collection is displayed outdoors, allowing close-up views of airframes.
• Restoration hangar and indoor exhibits: Contains dedicated hangars and workshop space used for restoration, maintenance, and some indoor exhibits with artifacts, interpretation, and smaller aircraft.
• Visitor center and amenities: Visitor services area with ticketing, a small gift shop, and interpretive panels providing history of the museum and the former air base.