Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum

The Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum is a great place to learn about our rich Western New York aviation history. From the earliest forms of flight to the most current aerospace innovations, come see what this area has produced. 

A History of Aviation in Western New York

The availability of electrical power on the Niagara Frontier at the turn of the century set off major industrial growth in the region. This burgeoning industrial capacity put Buffalo in the forefront to meet the new demands of the exploding transportation industry, particularly rail and automotive. When aviation burst upon the scene, with the Wright Brothers first flight, Buffalo was soon in a unique position to manufacture airplanes as well. Buffalo and Niagara Falls have continued to play a significant role in the development of aviation, producing more than 40,000 airplanes. Few people are aware of this proud heritage and of the significant, but less obvious and less publicized, aviation and space related activities and products that still continue to emanate from this region.


Museum History

The existence of the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum (newly located at Buffalo’s Waterfront in the Canal Side district) is critical to the preservation of the rich aviation and aerospace heritage in WNY for current and future generations to come.

The Museum (most recently known as the Niagara Aerospace Museum) owes its existence to the efforts of present and former aircraft industry employees, licensed pilots and aviation enthusiasts who recognized the singular role WNY entrepreneurs and businesses played throughout the history of aviation. This knowledgeable group recognized the need to protect and preserve the important artifacts and materials.

The idea of an aerospace museum began when the Amherst Museum became the custodian of a number of aviation artifacts relating to Western New York and general aviation history which had been acquired over time. Then, a group of aviation enthusiasts, including members of the Aero Club of Buffalo, formed the Lawrence D. Bell Aerospace Museum and acquired the collection from the Amherst Museum.

With the help of many volunteers, the museum opened in May of 1998 in the Summit Park Mall in Niagara Falls, NY. During that time, the Museum became the home of the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame, which was sponsored jointly by the Aero Club and the Museum.

In 2001, the Museum was offered space in the former Niagara Office Building in downtown Niagara Falls. The building was originally headquarters for the Carborundum Corporation. Funding for refurbishment of the space and construction of exhibits and interpretive displays was secured through a number of grants from government, local foundations and corporations and the new museum opened in November 2002.

In early 2003, with the help of NY State, the Seneca Nation of Indians was permitted to establish gambling casinos in Niagara Falls on land that included the Niagara Office Building. In March 2008, the Museum vacated that facility and relocated its office and collections to space in the former Bell Aerospace plant in the Town of Wheatfield, NY.

While located in Wheatfield, a very happenstance yet substantial bequest arose. Through the estate of the late K. Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted-Ross, long-time museum Trustee and benefactor, a new direction was determined for the Museum. A condition of the bequest was the renaming of the museum in honor of Olmsted-Ross’ late husband, Ira G. Ross, who headed Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories (now, Calspan Corporation) and that the museum be located in the City of Buffalo. The Museum was renamed the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum and the search was on to find a new home in the City of Buffalo.

In early 2008, the Buffalo Sabres organization came to the rescue of the Museum with an opportunity to lease approximately 10,000 square feet behind the Sabres Store in HSBC Arena. The location is very important and significant to the City’s waterfront development. It is a part of the Canal Side district – a proposed 20-acre waterfront site – and is within walking distance of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.

In addition to displaying artifacts, the Museum plans to carry out extensive educational aerospace history programming, while providing expert speakers to any interested groups, and will continue its extensive artifact restoration program. The most exciting upcoming restoration will be of the very recent acquisition of a P-39 Aerocobra.

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service at the start of World War II. Because the P-39 design was handicapped by the lack of an efficient turbo-supercharger it was limited to low-altitude work. The Soviet Air Force, who scored the highest number of individual kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type, then used it with great success.