The PBY-5A Catalina BuNo 2459 is on its way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI from Florida! The crew is passing through Georgia now and will be working into the Midwest for an overnight along the way. On the way out of Florida, the PBY flew over P-8 Poseidon's at Cecil Field - the same mission, 84 years apart! Before departure, we got a photo of the team at American Aero Services who worked on the PBY - there were many others that helped over the seven year span, but their dedication and excellence in craftsmanship truly made #2459 singular in regards to originality - thank you for everything, American Aero Services!
If you're interested in supporting the PBY-5A and showing your love for the airplane, please shop our new online gift shop with our PBY 2459 Merch! Go to:
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina BuNo 2459 Collection
ahmgiftshop.org
Support the ongoing operation of Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina BuNo. 2459 - the oldest PBY flying and the highest scoring PBY in existence! Restored and operated by the American Heritage Museum, here i...
The American Heritage Museum is proud to report that Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina BuNo 2459 took its first post-restoration flight on July 6, 2026 from New Smyrna Beach, FL after a seven-year restoration back to 1942 configuration by American Aero Services. The PBY is heading to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Fly-in and Airshow this weekend and will be on display July 20-26 in Oshkosh, WI. For more information, please see the news article on our website.![]()
#WWII #warbirds #pbycatalina #WorldWarII #eaaairventure
Learn More & Get Tickets at ahmus.me/atdw2026 - Here's a sneak preview of the incredible new Cold War Era tanks that will be featured at America's Tank Demo Weekend on July 25th and 26th! See the new M41 Walker Bulldog, M47 Patton, M60 Main Battle Tank, M60A2 Starship, and M88 Recovery Vehicle along with our WWII tanks, the M4 Sherman, M24 Chaffee, and M36 Jackson! You don't want to miss it!![]()
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Music by Bensound.com![]()
License code: JTYHTQGMC13SAKVX![]()
Artist: : Benjamin Tissot
It is with profound sadness that the American Heritage Museum shares the passing of our friend and colleague, Chris Cassidy, on July 12, 2026.![]()
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Starting as a volunteer back in 2010, helping us with the Race of the Century as a "wrench" and a driver in his spare time, Chris eventually joined us on staff before the American Heritage Museum opened. Since then, Chris served as our automobile caretaker, mechanic, and museum maintenance supervisor. He was a master machinist, an exceptional mechanic, and the person we trusted whenever something needed to be repaired, restored, or simply made to work again. Around the museum, the saying was simple: “If it’s broken, Chris can fix it.” That statement applied to whether it was a museum vehicle or one belonging to our volunteers or staff -- he always helped, no matter what. ![]()
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His knowledge, patience, and craftsmanship were invaluable to the care of our historic automobiles. In preparation for the annual Father's Day event, Chris spent many nights and weekends working on everything in the car barn to get it ready for the big show. Though maintaining such a wide range of vehicles could be stressful, he always cracked jokes with a smirk when the going got tough. ![]()
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Chris’s talents extended far beyond the museum. He was a champion lawn tractor puller, a renowned go-kart builder and racer, and loved his R/C cars and slot cars. If it had wheels and went fast, Chris was there! His lucky number was 13 because, as he liked to say, he always finished first or third—never second.![]()
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For all his accomplishments, Chris was most proud of his family. He was a devoted father and grandfather who treasured the time he spent with his beloved grandson, Jamison. He was also a trusted friend who never hesitated to lend a hand, share his knowledge, or help make someone’s day a little easier.![]()
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Chris’s legacy cannot be measured only by the engines he rebuilt, the races he won, or the historic machines he preserved. It lives in the people he helped, the lessons he shared, and the example he set through hard work, kindness, and quiet generosity.![]()
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Our hearts are broken by his loss, and his absence will be felt throughout the museum for years to come.![]()
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Rest easy, Chris. Your work here is done, but your legacy will keep running strong for generations.
History After Hours: First Battle of the Ironclads — USS Monitor Versus CSS Virginia with Michael Manning
September 3 @ 5:00 pm, ending 8:00 pm
Included with Standard Museum Admission
Join the American Heritage Museum for a special History After Hours presentation exploring one of the most consequential encounters in American naval history—a story with important origins here in Massachusetts.
Museum Hours: 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. | Presentation: 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
The Boston Navy Yard in Charlestown, located approximately 30 miles from the museum, designed, built, and supported many notable American warships. Among them was the USS Merrimack, one of six steam frigates ordered by the U.S. Navy in 1854. Combining traditional sails with a coal-fired steam engine and propeller, these vessels represented an important transition between the Age of Sail and the age of mechanized naval warfare.
The Merrimack began the Civil War as a United States Navy vessel, but she would later enter Confederate service under a new name: CSS Virginia. How could the same ship serve both sides during the same conflict?
Senior Docent Michael Manning will reveal the remarkable chain of events that transformed the Merrimack into a Confederate ironclad and brought the CSS Virginia face-to-face with the revolutionary USS Monitor at the Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862.
Through historic images, maps, and firsthand accounts, Manning will examine the construction and capabilities of both vessels, the dramatic two-day battle, and the technological revolution that followed. Their confrontation marked the first combat between ironclad warships and demonstrated that the era of the wooden fighting ship was rapidly coming to an end.
About the Speaker
Michael Manning is a senior docent and historian with the American Heritage Museum and the Collings Foundation. He has volunteered with the organization for more than 12 years.
Manning’s professional background is in engineering, with a concentration in energy and transportation. Outside the museum, he leads tours along several segments of the Boston Harborwalk. Since 2015, he has served as chairperson of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk.
He is also an advisor to the USS Constitution Museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard and an original member of The Pursuit of History, the organization behind the annual History Camp program.
Important Visitor Information
This program is a seated multimedia presentation in the American Heritage Museum’s Pacific War Gallery. Guests should plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.
History After Hours takes place on the first Thursday of each month, opening the American Heritage Museum from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for evening admission and special programming.
Standard museum admission rates apply. American Heritage Museum members are admitted free.
Get Tickets for History After Hours – Thursday, September 3rd
