Strategic Air and Space Museum, Nebraska

The museum for the Strategic Air Command opened in 1998, and is one of the largest military museums in the world. The original museum, conceived by SAC commander and Pentagon-builder General Curtis LeMay, opened in 1959, on the grounds of the SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, located 20 miles to the east. Security and space issues led to a drive to build a new museum to chronicle the history of SAC, the military agency responsible for deploying the nations nuclear arsenal against the Enemy. The new $33 million, 300,000 square foot museum and education center contains numerous aircraft, including an SR-71, as well as fixed and traveling exhibits.