Seattle - Washington State - page 107

frequently changing exhibits on more obscure aspects of the city's past. While
many of the displays will be of interest only to Seattle residents, anyone wishing
to gain a better understanding of the history of the city and the Northwest may
also enjoy the exhibits here. There's a Boeing mail plane from the 1920s, plus an
exhibit on the 1889 fire that leveled the city. This museum also hosts touring
exhibitions that address Northwest history. Although not actually in north Seat-
tle, this museum is just across the Montlake Bridge from the University District.
McCurdy Park, 2700 24th Ave. E. & 206/324-1126. www.seattlehistory.org. Admission $7 adults, $5 sen-
iors and ages 5-17, free for children under 5. Daily 10am-5pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. From
I-5, take Wash. 520 east (exit 168B) to the Montlake exit, go straight through the stoplight to 24th Ave. E.,
and turn left. Bus: 43.
Woodland Park Zoo Located in north Seattle, this sprawling zoo
has outstanding exhibits focusing on Alaska, tropical Asia, the African savanna,
and the tropical rainforest. The brown bear enclosure, one of the zoo's best
exhibits, is a very realistic reproduction of an Alaskan stream and hillside. In the
savanna, zebras gambol and antelopes and giraffes graze contentedly near a
reproduction of an African village. An elephant forest provides plenty of space
for the zoo's pachyderms, and the gorilla and orangutan habitats are also very
well done. There's even a large walk-through butterfly house ($1 additional fee)
during the summer months. Don't miss the giant Komodo lizards from Indone-
sia. A farm animal area and petting zoo are big hits with the little ones.
601 N. 59th St. & 206/684-4800. www.zoo.org. Admission $10 adults, $9.25 seniors and college students,
$7.50 people with disabilities and children ages 6-17, $5.25 ages 3-5, free for children 2 and under. Mar
15-Apr 30 and Sept 15-Oct 14 daily 9:30am-5pm; May 1-Sept 14 daily 9:30am-6pm; Oct 15-Mar 14 daily
9:30am-4pm. Parking $3.50. Bus: 5.
SOUTH SEATTLE
Museum of Flight Located right next door to busy Boeing Field, 15
minutes south of downtown Seattle, this museum will have aviation buffs walk-
ing on air. Within the six-story glass-and-steel repository are displayed some of
history's most famous planes.
To start things off, there's a replica of the Wright brothers' first glider, and
from there the collection of planes brings you to the present state of flight. Sus-
pended in the Great Hall are more than 20 planes, including a 1935 DC-3, the
first Air Force F-5 supersonic fighter, and the Gossamer Condor, a human-pow-
ered airplane; plus there are some 34 other planes on display. You'll also see one
of the famous Blackbird spy planes, which were once the world's fastest jets (and
you can even sit in the cockpit of one of these babies). A rare World War II Cor-
sair fighter rescued from Lake Washington and restored to its original glory is
also on display. Visitors get to board the original Air Force One presidential
plane, used by Eisenhower, and can sit in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet
fighter. An exhibit on the U.S. space program features an Apollo command
module. Of course, you'll also see plenty of Boeing planes, including a repro-
duction of Boeing's first plane, which was built in 1916. The museum also
incorporates part of Boeing's old wooden factory building from its early years.
While any air-and-space museum lets you look at mothballed planes, not
many have their own air-traffic control tower and let you watch aircraft taking
off and landing at an active airfield. During the summer months, biplane rides
are usually offered from in front of the museum.
The Museum of Flight Restoration Center ( & 425/745-5150 ) is located
north of Seattle at Paine Field, which is near the city of Everett. Here you'll see
planes in various stages of restoration. This center is open Tuesday through

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