Chennault Aviation & Military Museum

Monroe's aviation legacy begins with a reunion. In 1986, veterans who had trained at Selman Field during World War II gathered for the first time. Fourteen years later, that reunion became the Aviation Historical Museum of Louisiana, opening to the public on November 11, 2000. The museum went through two name changes before the Louisiana State Legislature designated it the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in August 2008. The name honors General Claire Lee Chennault, a Monroe native who commanded the Flying Tigers for China from 1941 to 1942, before the United States entered World War II. Taiwan donated a statue of the general that stands in front of the museum. His granddaughter, Nell Calloway, became CEO in 2017. Inside, exhibits span World War I through the Afghanistan War—aircraft, vehicles, and artifacts that trace the establishment of the local aviation industry. A room called Way of a Fighter is dedicated to Chennault. A memorial honors soldiers killed in action. The museum added an expansion in November 2007, bringing the total size to 10,625 square feet, after state funding delays threatened the project. An aircraft restoration building broke ground in August 2010. An aviation park displays several aircraft adjacent to the main building. A research library operates on site. The museum separated from the Louisiana State Museum system in 2015. It runs a veterans' closet and hosts student competitions for National History Day. Since 2022, the museum has partnered with local universities—Louisiana Tech students painted a mural on the exterior in May, and Louisiana Delta Community College students restored the museum's deuce and a half truck in 2024. The museum is located at Monroe Regional Airport and opens Monday through Saturday with an admission fee.