Last Thursday, visitors in Rhode Island and surrounding New England states were invited onboard the exact replica of Air Force One at the Air Force One Experience at the Quonset Airport. The Air Force One Experience opened last week for visitors and will continue on a limited engagement in Rhode Island till the end of October. The first 3,000 tickets to Rhode Island patrons are free and then the ticket price is $17.50 for adults and $10.00 for children. They are open Monday- Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
The Air Force One Experience is made possible by The Children’s Democracy Project, whose mission to teach children the importance and value of democracy. Created to inspire the next generation of leaders, the Air Force One Experience is focused on connecting children with the principles of American democracy through a relatable and exciting experience. The fully-functioning Boeing 747 is a recreation of America’s most famous icon of democracy, freedom, and hope. This is the only scheduled New England appearance on the exhibit’s tour.
I had the chance to attend the media opening last week and I have to say it was one of the neatest Rhode Island experiences I have had this year. To be able to see a Boeing 747 that is an exact replica of the actual Air Force One flown in by all the presidents was truly astonishing. If you ever wanted to know what Air Force One looks like, now is your chance! Trust me when I tell you that you will want to take the entire family because once it is gone, it is not returning to Rhode Island.
Before boarding Air Force One, there will be a small tent set up with some amazing historical artifacts that are on loan to the Air Force One Experience. Some of these include:
- President John F. Kennedy’s limousine from the 1960s;
- A seat from the original Air Force One jet that President Kennedy used to travel for his trips into Quonset Airport during his presidency;
- A handwritten letter from President Abraham Lincoln to a 19 year-old on the importance of voting for the future of democracy;
- A newspaper from 1791 announcing the arrival of President George Washington by horse;
- A magazine from 1949 describing President Truman’s travels by train along with the president’s personal menu;
- An interactive exhibit of a Suburban SUV retrofitted to replicate those used by the secret service, and many more in an ever-changing array of educational and inspirational artifacts from American political history.
Then you will get a tour of Air Force One and have the chance to not only visit inside, but walk around to see the belly of the plane and the engines. This is the experience of a lifetime that you do not want to miss. On the plane, you will see the following:
- Conference Room where the President holds critical meetings in the sky;
- Hallway between the press corps and the meeting rooms as seen in countless images;
- Medical Annex that serves as a functional operating room aboard Air Force One;
- Presidential Office in which the President conducts private meetings;
- Presidential Quarters for the President and First Family when traveling aboard.
To visit, simply go to the Quonset State Airport at 150 Airport Street, North Kingstown, RI. You can not miss this plane! Have a wonderful time!
About The Children’s Democracy Project
The Children’s Democracy Project (CDP) has embarked on a landmark initiative to bring powerful lessons teaching the value of democracy and the right to vote to 50 million children across America. Children are sorely lacking a proper appreciation of the fundamental values that Americans hold dear. Without this appreciation, the next generations are at risk. The CDP has set out to create multiple platforms where children will see and experience democracy in action, learning valuable lessons through well-developed curriculums, powerful testimonials, high impact audio/visual presentations, and highly engaging exhibitions. For more information, visit www.childrensdemocracy.org.
*I was invited to the opening. All opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.*