Museum welcomes record 1,000th visitor in July

Published 1:30 am Friday, July 24, 2026

A museum on North Whidbey hit an important milestone this week.

Thursday afternoon, the 1,000th visitor to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum in the month of July walked through its doors. That is the first time in the museum’s more than 25-year history that it has drawn so many visitors in a single month.

“It’s a very big moment of pride for me and for my team,” said Barry Meldrum, the museum’s executive director.

Museum staff greeted the lucky visitor, Yimiin Minnie Yen, with balloons upon arrival. Yen is from Alaska and visited Whidbey with her friends, one of whom joked about buying a lottery ticket after the celebration.

Meldrum said there were concerns the museum would lose foot traffic after moving from Pioneer Way to Ault Field Road last year. But attendance has continued to grow since the move.

“We have steadily been climbing in visitors for many years,” he said. “But at our old space, we were proud to say we achieved 5,000 visitors the whole year. So for us to achieve one-fifth of that in a month is pretty exceptional.”

Meldrum said moving the museum’s World War II-era PBY-5A Catalina — an amphibious patrol bomber — also likely contributed to the milestone. With help from a Washington Army National Guard Chinook helicopter, the aircraft was airlifted across the island and now sits on the museum campus.

Crowds gathered to watch the move, and after minor repairs, the PBY is now fully on display, Meldrum said.

Meldrum also credited the larger facility, expanded exhibits and special events — including the museum’s America 250 celebration on the Fourth of July — with drawing more visitors.

“Honestly, I just think it’s because we are here now, and we are able to focus as full-time staff,” he said. “Previously, at the smaller space, it was difficult for us to spread our wings, to use a cliche. But I think that’s what we’re doing now, and it’s really working.”

Meldrum added that the milestone benefits not only the museum, but Oak Harbor as well, specifically its efforts to attract tourism.

“We have the numbers to recognize that it is indeed happening, and that our work is prevailing,” he added.