This unique museum occupies one of the last standing buildings of the WWII Selman Army Airfield Navigation School. With over 11,000 artifacts, this museum is a must-see for every history buff.

Take a step back in time and learn about three historic chapters in the nation’s and Monroe’s history: The Navigation School that trained over 15,000 navigators during WWII, the birth of Delta airlines from a regional crop dusting service, and the life of Louisiana native General Claire Lee Chennault, leader of the flying tigers. Fun fact – the museum is run by General Claire Lee Chennault’s great granddaughter, Nell Calloway!

The military portion is portrayed through sections of the museum representing all five military branches. Each section houses an abundance of weaponry, uniforms, photographs, documents, and other artifacts depicting WWI through present day with heavy emphasis on Louisiana. Military heroes, many from Northeast Louisiana, are profiled providing dramatic first-person accounts of experiences in the military. In a separate room is an extensive exhibit showing the life and times of General Chennault and his famous Flying Tigers from WWII, showcasing the world's largest collection of Chennault artifacts.

Veteran’s outreach is important to the museum. Bi-monthly PTSD clinics are offered for veterans. The museum also partners with the Library of Congress in their veteran’s oral history program. A variety of educational events for the public are held such as STEM based scavenger hunts, Coffee with a Curator, and more.

The fun continues! The Red, White, & Blue airshow made its first annual appearance in 2022 and was a hit! This two-day airshow honored North Louisiana’s long history in Aviation and was the first major airshow for our area in over 40 years. Mark your calendars – the airshow will make its return May 5 – 7!

Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is free and open Tuesday through Saturday 9 am – 4 pm. For more information, visit chennaultmuseum.org or call 318–362-5540.