Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum

museum display

The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum opened in July 2015. Located in the former Rocky Mountain Airways airline terminal of Granby/Grand County Airport, the museum’s displays, photographs and artifacts tell the fascinating stories of aviation history in Grand County.

Winner of the History Colorado statewide award 2019

One exhibit in the award-winning, free museum is the Granby Airport Pioneers Wall of Fame. The Wall honors local citizen volunteers who in the 1940s began the airport and continued to volunteer their time and talent to improve and maintain the community airport.

museum display

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 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.

History

airplane
The 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!

Emily Warner Featured in Rocky Mountain PBS Documentary

Learn about this local airline pilot’s role in women’s aviation history. Watch Emily Howell Warner: Pushing Frontiers in the Sky, a Great Colorado Women documentary presented by Rocky Mountain PBS.

https://vimeo.com/enchantedroad/emilywarner

Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum at Granby AirportVisit Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum

Directions 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: Summer: June 2 thru August 26, 2023
Friday & Saturday 10am-2pm EXCEPT Saturday, July 1, 2023 hours are 8am-11am in support of the EAA annual pancake breakfast
Closed in Winter

Admission: Free
Location: Granby Airport, 1023 County Road 610, Granby, CO 80446
Phone: 970-531-1100 or 970-725-6009
Emailshanna@grandcountyhistory.org

March 8th: Celebrate Emily Warner & Women Airline Pilots Day
Join us every year on March 8th for an annual celebration to honor Emily Warner and women pilots in history! Emily Warner is America’s Pioneer Female Airline Pilot and First Female ALPA Member (1973), First Woman Airline Captain (1976), National Aviation and National Women’s Hall of Fame, Women in Aviation Intl Pioneer Hall of Fame. In 2015, Granby/Grand County Airport named Emily Warner Field.