The Good Life – September-October 2014

Fargo Air Museum expands education, restoration, preservation opportunities
it. They were thrilled to be able to have
a place to display the aircraft they did
have.”
After thirteen years of living out the
museum’s mission and displaying rare
aircraft, excitement brews as the “Beck-
Odegaard Wing” prepares to open.
Since the museum opening, Beck and
Odegaard have both passed away. The
wing will honor aviation preservation
and education, as well as both men’s
dedication to the Fargo Air Museum.
The new 100-foot-by-150-foot
building will provide more space and
opportunity to showcase different
sections, including different themes
from history, much like the Museum
of Flight in Seattle. Fargo Air Museum
CEO, Scott Fletcher, said themes
focused on World War I, World War
II, the Korean War, Beck-Odegaard,
Indian tribes, women in aviation and
NASA will be incorporated into the
buildings depending on donations.
The museum has high hopes of being a
worldly attraction, but still wants those
who visit to experience North Dakota
specifically through aviation history.
“We really want to ensure North Dakota is the main focus of the museum,”
Fletcher said. “We have great depth and richness in our culture in the state
of North Dakota that needs to be highlighted in our museum artifacts. Our
people are our greatest asset of the state.”
Since the Fargo Air Museum planning began before 2001, three building
phases made up the grand picture. After the second phase, the “Beck-
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