Many San Diegans both born here and transplants know of the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. This year I learned that the Air and Space Museum has an Annex in East County that is totally free! While it might seem odd to place a Museum on the border between El Cajon and Santee, Gillespie Field was actually chosen by the Marines to be a parachute training facility in the early 1940’s.
While the museum itself is a little bit run down, the boys had tons of fun walking around the flight hanger and the grounds. Some retired machines had their doors taken off and their buttons in tact so the boys had tons of fun switching levers and pushing buttons.
There were plenty of fully rebuilt models and machine parts for the kids to look at as well as refurbished vintage airplane rockers for small children to enjoy.
If you’re interested in helping keep this place alive for future generations to enjoy, please consider donating to the Museum here as the place is operated by retired military volunteers. Thanks for keeping San Diego heritage alive! Official San Diego Air and Space Museum Website
