International Civil Aviation Day 2020: Top 6 Spectacular US Aviation Museums To Visit

International Civil Aviation Day is observed on Dec. 7 each year. It is meant to raise awareness about civil aviation that plays a significant role in social and economic development.

The day was first celebrated in 1994 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) headquartered in Montreal, Canada. In 1996, it was officially incorporated in the UN calendar of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as part of the activities for the Convention on International Civil Aviation's 50th-anniversary celebration.

According to both the UN and the ICAO, the goal of celebrating the International Civil Aviation Day is to "help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of the States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realise a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind."

Every 5 years since International Aviation Day was first celebrated, the ICAO chooses a special anniversary theme that remains in effect for 4 years. This year, the organization is rolling a fresh theme that will run until 2023. The new theme is "Advancing innovation for global aviation development."

On the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day, you can pay a visit to a local aviation museum that showcases items like aviation artifacts and replicas of aircraft. In the museums, children may be also thrilled to see space artifacts that have been collected during space travels.

You may also check out six of the best aviation museums in the U.S.

EAA Aviation Museum: Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the museum features historic and experimental aircraft alongside antiques, classics and warbirds.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force: The museum, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, is the official museum of the United States Air Force (USAF). It is known to be the oldest military aviation museum in the world.

Florida Air Museum: This museum, which features a collection of spectacular aircraft antiques, is located in Lakeland, Florida.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: The museum, located at USAF's Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, archives the history of Lowry Air Force Base's operations from 1938 to 1994.

Southern Museum of Flight: Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this facility features 100 aircraft models, engines and other artifacts.

Wings of Eagles Discovery Center: This facility boasts a wide range of aircraft and missile collections. It is located in Horseheads, New York.