Bird Aviation Museum & Invention Center

03/10/2026

Sorry for the late update… the museum is back open for the 2026 season…

Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM through Friday, May 1

Saturday, May 2 through Saturday, September 26, Tuesday through Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM 

Please call the Museum at 208–758–8355 for the Atlas/ Cessna, gate # 14 access code (or we can remotely buzz you in) 

Hope to see you soon!

01/09/2026

Museum will temporarily be seasonally closed for deep cleaning, display updates and additions, and regular maintenance.

While the museum is closed, you can still schedule your group visit, inquire about a visit during the seasonal closure or ask questions by emailing [email protected] or check out our website for the latest info.

Re-opening date is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year 🎊.

12/17/2025

Due to the wind storm and debris, for the safety of museum staff and volunteers, the museum will be closed today.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 CLOSED

Widespread power outages, downed trees and multiple school closures

Apologies for the inconvience. Stay safe!

09/19/2025

Last night the museum hosted the Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA) group and it was catered by Drummin Up BBQ & Catering.
It was a beautiful evening!

Don’t forget about the museum for its unique location for your events. Fron birthday and retirement parties to wedding rehearsals, graduation celebrations, and other events… We are here to help you celebrate!

For additional information, please call the Museum at 208–758–8355 or email [email protected] 

09/11/2025

"No day shall erase you from the memory of time."

Today, we honor the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001. Their names, faces, and stories will forever remain in our hearts and in the legacy of a nation that promised never to forget.

🏙️ 2,753 souls lost at the World Trade Center, including 343 firefighters and 63 law enforcement officers
🛫 184 lives taken at the Pentagon
✈️ 40 passengers and crew aboard Flight 93, who fought back with extraordinary courage

We also remember the thousands more who have since passed due to long-term health effects from that day—first responders, survivors, and loved ones whose battles continued long after the smoke cleared.

Their legacy lives on in every act of remembrance, every story shared, and every promise kept.

#911

09/02/2025

Due to the heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service, today, Tuesday, September 2nd through Thursday, September 4, 2025 … the museum will be closing at Noon for the safety of museum staff, volunteers and guests.

We hope you can visit us in the morning when the temperatures are cooler. Stay safe, hydrated and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

For additional questions or the gate access code, please call the museum at 208-758-8355.

Bird Aviation Museum & Invention Center
2678 W. Cessna Ave.
Hayden, Idaho 83835mbe

08/23/2025

Due to the heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service, today, Saturday, 8/23 through Wednesday, 8/27, 2025… the museum will be closing at Noon for the safety of museum staff, volunteers and guests.

We hope you can visit us in the morning when the temperatures are cooler. Stay safe, hydrated and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

For additional questions or the gate access code, please call the museum at 208-758-8355.

Bird Aviation Museum & Invention Center
2678 W. Cessna Ave.
Hayden, Idaho 83835

08/16/2025

Update: Saturday, 8/16 at 9am - the museum will be open from 9am to Noon today!
It is raining 🌧️

Call 208-758-8355 for the Cessna/Atlas gate code or we can buzz you in!

—————-

Heads up… the Museum will be CLOSED on Saturday, August 16. We apologize for the last minute notice and inconvenience.

With the continued growth of the Sunset Fire, the Museum’s previous location in Sagle, Idaho is the “SET” (ready - set - go) category, which is one level below evacuation status. The museum has a few aircraft stored in the prior location, in addition to the museums Saturday staff has a home/property in the “SET” area.

Please pray for rain and send positive thoughts to those already impacted and displaced by the fire, those in the pathway, along with the aerial support crews, firefighters, Hot Shots and all emergency personnel on the ground assisting.

Again, sorry for the inconvenience.

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🔥Sunset Fire🔥
08.15.25, PM Update

🔹FIRE INFORMATION:
Jurisdiction: Idaho Department of Lands
Location: Northeast of Athol, ID
Cause: Under investigation

🔹CURRENT SITUATION:
Size: 2,702 acres
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 295

🔹EVACUATIONS:
🟢GO: All residents on Raven Road, Crosswhite Road, Little Blacktail Road, and east of 2268 Sunset Road. USFS 630 off Blacktail Road (north of Blacktail), Butler Creek and Butler Creek Spur, from Mirror Lake, diagonal down to USFS 630, including Five Lakes Estates, Jupline Landing , the entire Ponderosa neighborhood and everything on Talache Rd. and all side streets feeding to Talache Rd.
🟡SET: Blacktail Road a quarter-mile north of Little Blacktail, and everything north of Talache Road in Sagle. Residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
🔴READY: Blacktail Road north of the ¼ mile and for the community of Bayview in neighboring Kootenai County.

🔹CLOSURES:
Sunset and Little Blacktail Rd.

🔹EVACUATION CENTERS:
Cocolalla Bible Camp, 209 Cocolalla Loop, for residents
Bonner County Fairgrounds, for livestock

🔹STATUS:
Today, the Sunset Fire grew to 2,702 acres with the most activity along the northern perimeter. Hotshot crews, supported by aerial resources, worked to construct firelines in that area to slow its advance. The fire continues to burn in heavy timber and steep terrain.

Along the southern flank, crews focused on strengthening dozer lines and began installing hose lays to provide water at the fire’s edge. Night crews will continue line-building efforts.

Currently, 295 personnel are assigned to the fire.

Structures and other values at risk remain threatened. Structure protection groups are actively assessing areas along Talache Road and Butler Creek, implementing point protection where needed. Additional crews will be assigned to support work in this area.

The ordered Complex Incident Management Team will in brief tomorrow afternoon and begin shadowing the current organization to take over command.

Additional information will be posted when it becomes available. Monitor local social media channels and Nixle for emergency notifications and evacuation notices. Fire information provided by Idaho Department of Lands.

08/02/2025

August 2, 2025

Reflecting on a life well lived and the legacy Forrest left behind. Ten years after the passing of Dr. Forrest Bird, it's clear that his legacy continues to breathe life into the fields of medicine, aviation, and education—quite literally.

10 years ago today, we lost one of the Museum cofounders, Dr. Forrest Bird. I can’t say the last 10 years without you has not been easy, but more like an action packed roller coaster. The Museum continues to host school groups, car clubs, scouting events, senior visits, fly-ins, and a little bit of everything and anything in between.

A Legacy That Still Breathes… Looking back a decade later, Dr. Bird’s life reminds us of what’s possible when science, compassion, and imagination come together. His work not only saved lives but also nurtured a sense of possibility—demonstrating that one person, driven by a desire to help others and a deep curiosity, can change the world.

The Bird Aviation Museum stands not just as a monument to a great man, but as a living classroom—where past innovation fuels future discovery.

You are missed deeply, thought of often and loved very much.

🤗 ✈️ 💡 🧬

07/29/2025

With the warmer temperatures over the next few days in the area, for the safety of museum staff, volunteers and visitors, the museum will be closing at Noon.

With NO air conditioning in the hangar and being surrounded by asphalt, it gets hot inside fairly quickly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The museum hours this week will be:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9am to Noon.
Friday and Saturday, 9am to 3pm. 

The museum is located at 2678 W. Cessna Ave. Hayden, Idaho, Idaho at the Coeur d’Alene airport.

Once you were on Atlas Road and ready to turn on to Cessna behind gate number 14, please call the Museum at 208-758-8355 and we can give you the gate access code or buzz you in.

We hope to see you soon!

07/19/2025

Happy Saturday ☀️ ✈️ 💡 🌺

A few people have asked how they can support the museum from afar. Here is an updated Amazon wish list for some of the museum needs.

The museum wish list has items for restocking the kids scavenger hunt prizes to office and cleaning supplies. The biggest need at the moment is a new easy to use shop vacuum to pick up all the debris underneath the carbon fiber flooring, along with a handheld vacuum that we can use to spot clean as necessary.

Any items purchased can be sent directly to the museum (address is saved on the wish list) or can be dropped off during museum operating hours.

The Museum’s current hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. We hope you’re able to visit us soon! 



07/11/2025

The Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center is blessed to have an amazing staff and a wonderful team of volunteers. ✈️ While our volunteers have dwindled over time, I know that if I were to pick up the phone or send a text for help, even if it’s last minute… help arrives and someone shows up. From friends - to volunteers - to neighbor and volunteers, the museum is blessed to have many that care and support us.

This specific volunteer hasn’t been around since the beginning, however his countless hours of dedicated service has not gone unnoticed.

Please join me in congratulating, Robert “Bob”Bolam, who just hit 800 hours of volunteering at the museum location at KCOE in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 🎉 🤩⭐️

For those who haven’t met Bob, he is a regular on Thursdays at the museum.

What makes a great volunteer? A volunteer who selflessly gives his time, knowledge and experience to the museum guests. From celebrating birthdays, to memorials, helping with display updates, kids scavenger hunts and even attending my kids school/music events - this is what an outstanding volunteer looks like. I am thankful that Bob has become a part of my extended family.

THANK YOU ROBERT “BOB” BOLAM for being YOU and the museum is lucky to have YOU!

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Come and stop by and if it’s in a Thursday, you will most likely be greeted by Bob.

2678 W. Cessna Ave.
Hayden, Idaho 83815

Call 208-758-8355 and we can give you the gate code or remotely buzz you in. We hope to see you soon!!