Frequently Asked Questions
Ticketing & General Information:
Do you sell gift cards to the Museum and Waterpark?
Yes, we sell gift cards in any denomination—the gift card is usable in any area of the Evergreen Museum campus, including the Waterpark. Gift cards are better than tickets: they do not expire, they are trackable and can be replaced if lost. Unfortunately we are not yet able to sell gift cards online; to order a gift card, please call 503-434-4185 or email giftcards@sprucegoose.org.
Do you have wheelchairs available?
We do have several wheelchairs available for guests. They are available on a first come, first serve basis. Just ask the front desk for a wheelchair when you arrive.
How do I book a birthday party?
Please call the main office to schedule your birthday party at Wings & Waves or the Museums. 503-434-4185
Do you offer a campus pass?
We do not have a full campus pass for the Waterpark, Museums & Theater. We do encourage visitors to visit the waterpark and museums in different days. It typically takes guests an hour and half per Museum (Aviation and Space) as well as see an hour long movie. It can be a lot of walking throughout the day.
The Waterpark is also an experience that takes some time and a lot of energy. Depending upon the number of times that a person decides to ride the slides each trip is up 6 flights of stairs to the top of the slides, and while carrying a floaty tube it can be tiring after a few hours. That doesn’t include all the pools, the Wave Pool and a visit to the Hands-On-Science center to finish out a full day of fun.
Can we bring in outside food?
We do not allow outside food in the waterpark or museums. We do allow people to go outside eat and come back into the waterpark or the Museum with a paid admission band. If you have special dietary needs or medical conditions, please alert the staff member you speak with upon checking in and they will direct you to the Safety office where these items can be stored.
Donation Request
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum donate tickets that are in line with our mission. As a 501c3 we have a limited number, but encourage people to send an email to donations@sprucegoose.org or mail to:
Donations @ Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
500 NE Capt. Michael King Smith Way
McMinnville, OR 97128
You will hear back from our donations department within a week of the request.
Do you have discounts?
Military:
Present your military I.D. when purchasing admission and receive a $5 off admission discount for up to four people at the Waterpark and get into the Museum for free up to 4 people. Tickets to the movies are just $5 per person.
Group Rate:
Groups of 15+ people can receive the group rate of $20/person for the Waterpark and can get into the Museums for discounted rates starting at $16 per person. Registration and pre-payment required by calling the office at 503-434-4185
AAA Membership:
If you have AAA you can receive a $5 off admission discount for up to four people. Just present your AAA card when purchasing admission at the Waterpark. Active Military gets into the Museums free of charge for up to 4 people and discounts on movies.
Artifact Questions:
Are the aircraft flyable?
The ones that have drip pans underneath them are but they would need an annual inspection and maintenance to make them legal. Currently the Stearman Biplane and T-28 are flying.
Why are the two Marine Corps aircraft not resting on their wheels?
Those two aircraft are on loan to the Museum from the Marine Corps. As part of the loan agreement the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum must keep them safe—including their tires. The bottom of their landing gear is resting on jacks, which keeps the weight of the aircraft off of the tires.
Can I ride on the Biplanes in the Space Museum?
The Evergreen Biplane ride is available every day, for those that meet the height requirement. Just ask one of the green-vested Museum staff to start it up for you.
Who owns the aircraft in the Museum?
The Museum owns many of the aircraft in the collection. However the more modern jet aircraft are on loan from the Air Force Museum, Naval Aviation Museum, and Marine Corps Museum. Some of the artifacts are on loan from the GSA, Smithsonian, and Kansas Cosmosphere.
How did the Spruce Goose get here?
The Spruce Goose was disassembled at the Dome in Long Beach, California and transported on an ocean barge up the West Coast to Portland via the Columbia River. Once in Portland, it was transported by smaller barges on the Willamette River to a spot three miles from the Museum. From there it was slowly transported by truck to the Museum restoration facility, where it was prepped to go on display in the new Aviation Museum building in 2001.
Why is the Spruce Goose here?
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum was selected out of a group of several museums by the Aero Club of Southern California to be the home of the Spruce Goose. The Museum’s proposal to the Aero Club stated that the Spruce Goose will be protected as a historic artifact and displayed intact in perpetuity.
Where are restrooms in the Aviation Museum?
There are two restroom areas in the Aviation Museum. As you enter the building, the main restrooms are to the right, through the Museum Store/behind the Liberty Belle Café. The second set of restrooms are on the west side of the building, near the B-17. There are also two similarly located sets of restrooms in the Space Museum.
How do you Volunteer?
You can submit a Volunteer application and mail it to the Museum. You will then receive a call from our Volunteer Recruiter to set up an interview. Once accepted as a Volunteer, the Museum holds a Volunteer Orientation once a month. Visit our Volunteer page, and feel free to download the Volunteer application!
Why can’t I sit in the cockpits of the aircraft?
Some of the aircraft are considered artifacts, and if everyone sat in the cockpit they would quickly become worn and degraded.
How do you clean the Spruce Goose?
There are two Volunteers who dust the aircraft from nose to tail every 6 months. They use long poles with dust cloths on them and a 60 foot lift. About the time they finish, we open up the windows in the Museum to cool the building down and the plane gets dusty again!
