The Museum's collection is made up largely of artifacts donated by the public. We appreciate your desire to become involved in preserving aviation history. The Museum acknowledges that our collections and exhibits are not inclusive of all experiences. We particularly need items that reflect the accomplishments of women, First Nations, people of color, LGBTQ+, those with disabilities, and our diverse local communities in the field of aviation and aerospace. We are developing our collection and exhibits to better tell these stories.
Because of space and care requirements, we must consider every donation offer very carefully. To determine whether The Museum of Flight is the best fit for your object, please provide as much information as possible on the form below to help the Collections staff make a well-informed decision. We do not accept drop-off donations.
Following your submission of the form, the Collections staff will carefully consider your offer and compare it to our existing collection. Due to the deliberate nature of the consideration process, it may take several weeks to reach a decision. Should we determine that The Museum of Flight is not an appropriate repository for your item, we will do our best to help you find the right institution to ensure the long-term care and appreciation of your donation.
If you need help or have additional questions, please contact the Museum Curator at 206-764-5874 or Curator@museumofflight.org.
The Museum collects materials that represent the history of aviation and aerospace, from 18th century ballooning to 21st century rocketry. Materials include 3D objects, photographs, textual documents, ephemera, audiovisual materials, books, periodicals and more.
No. The Museum is prohibited by law from appraising any property, even if it has been donated to the Museum. To obtain an appraisal value for your materials, please contact the American Society of Appraisers or Appraisers' Association of America.
Yes. However, the Museum is prohibited by law from appraising any property, even if it has been donated to the Museum. Please contact the American Society of Appraisers or Appraisers' Association of America for a professional appraising service. Any appraisals should be completed prior to the donation process.
People wishing to donate an artifact to the Museum must fill out the donation form below or contact us via phone (206-764-5874) or email (Curator@museumofflight.org). A Collections staff member will follow-up with you about your donation offer. We do not accept drop-off donations and unsolicited, mailed items are highly discouraged.
Unfortunately, the Museum cannot promise when or if an item will go on display. Only a small percentage of the Museum's entire collection is on view at any given time. While not on display, items are cared for in storage, made available to researchers, and used for public programs at the Museum. We are also working to make artifacts and other materials available online via our Digital Collections website.
While we do use artifacts on short-term loan for special exhibitions, the Museum does not accept long-term loans to the collection.
The Museum can't return accessioned materials to the donor. When the deed of gift is signed, ownership of the materials is legally transferred to the Museum.
Yes! Even if you are unsure, the artifact donation form is a great way to get in contact with us and start the conversation.
