James Rogers McConnell Air Museum
The James Rogers McConnell Air Museum is an aviation museum located at the Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in Carthage, North Carolina focused on aviation in World War I.
History
Background
Roland Gilliam purchased acres near Carthage, North Carolina and began building Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in 1989. The airport was completed in 1994 when the runway was paved. It was followed by the construction of several houses and the opening of a restaurant in 2008.Establishment
After learning about James Rogers McConnell, a North Carolina pilot killed in World War I, Gilliam was motivated to establish the museum in Fall 2013. It opened ten years later on 23 September 2023.The museum received a donation of over 2,500 model airplanes in 2019.