The Tillamook Air Musuem is excited to partner with Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM) to bring a special Tillamook Air Museum experience to this year’s Tillamook County Fair!
Prior to the Museum’s closure, they introduced an immersive VR (virtual reality) experience that gives visitors the opportunity to virtually climb one of Hangar B’s historic wooden stairways and experience this incredible WW II blimp hangar from an entirely new perspective.
The museum is loaning two of our VR headsets to FOTAM and working together to bring this Museum experience back to the public.
If you’re heading to the Tillamook County Fair, August 5–8, stop by the Save Hangar B booth and give it a try! You’ll have the chance to virtually step inside Hangar B, climb nearly 200 feet into its towering wooden structure, and experience parts of this historic landmark from a perspective few people ever get to see.
We’re grateful to FOTAM for working with us to share this unique piece of the Tillamook Air Museum experience with our community and help keep the history of Hangar B alive!
𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠 7/20/26
This remarkable photograph, taken circa 1943, captures the south end of Historic Hangar B during active construction at Naval Air Station Tillamook during WW ll.
Take a close look at the foreground. Partially assembled Douglas fir trusses awaiting erection fill the construction yard, illustrating the enormous scale of the building effort. More than half of Hangar B’s massive timber trusses had already been erected at this point, offering a remarkable glimpse into the construction of one of the largest clear-span wooden structures ever built.
Once completed, these massive timber trusses supported a roof that, if laid flat, would cover nearly 12 acres. Altogether, the amount of Douglas fir used to construct Historic Hangar B would be enough to build nearly 280 three-bedroom homes.
More than 80 years later, these historic photographs continue to tell the story of the engineers, craftsmen, and workers whose vision and skill created one of America’s most extraordinary wartime structures.
Work to begin to Address Storm Damage on Hangar B in August
The Port of Tillamook Bay is preparing to begin work to safely remove the storm-damaged section of roofing on historic Hangar B. Work is anticipated to begin in early August, pending final coordination with outside partners, and is expected to take approximately 30 days to complete.
This project represents the first on-site phase of work following the December 2025 windstorm, which peeled back approximately 200 feet of the roof. The work will focus on the safe removal and disposal of this damaged section of roofing, reducing the immediate safety concern while supporting future phases of work on Hangar B.
Safety remains the Port’s highest priority, and this project reflects the Port’s continued commitment to responsibly caring for Tillamook County’s most recognizable historic landmarks. While this is only the first phase of work, it represents meaningful progress in improving safety and addressing the damage to the hangar.
We appreciate the community’s patience and continued support as this work progresses. Additional updates will be shared as they become available. Stay tuned!
Help Keep History Alive
Although the Tillamook Air Museum remains closed, there are still several meaningful ways you can help preserve and share this remarkable history.
Support Museum Operations
Your donation helps support our ongoing efforts to preserve, research, document, and share the history of the Tillamook Air Museum and Historic Hangar B.
Visit Our Online Museum Store
Every purchase from our online gift shop directly supports museum operations while allowing you to own a unique piece of Tillamook Air Museum history. We also offer free local pickup for those in the area.
Support the Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM)
The Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum are working to support the long-term preservation of Historic Hangar B. If you’d like to contribute to their efforts, you can donate here:
Every donation, every purchase, every share, and every comment helps preserve the legacy of the Tillamook Air Museum and Historic Hangar B for future generations.
