Experience living history and learn about WWII like never before at the General Carl Spaatz Museum and Escape Room in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
Have you heard of General Carl Spaatz?
Born in 1891 in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, Spaatz graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1914 and began his aviation career during World War I. He achieved notable feats including commanding the Army plane "Question Mark" in a record endurance flight and leading the Eighth Air Force in Europe during World War II. Spaatz also commanded U.S. forces in North Africa and the Pacific, overseeing major bombing missions and the defeat of Japan. Promoted to general in 1945, he served as the first chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force in 1947 before retiring in 1948. He earned numerous awards and foreign honors and died in 1974.
Source: General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum
Our team at the visitors bureau recently had the privilege of visiting this incredible museum. With options for both self-guided and interactive tours, we opted for the interactive experience and highly recommend it!
We began by stepping back to 1908, when the Rhoads Opera House fire occurred—an event that significantly impacted General Spaatz's young life. The exhibit features a typical Boyertown residence from that era. The period decorations were fascinating, but the highlight was a talking photograph that vividly recounted the tragic event. After learning about the early influences on General Spaatz, we were guided to the next room to explore the timeline of his life.
Next, we entered the Mission Briefing Room, where the experience became even more engaging and interactive. Each team member was given a role, and we learned about a mission as if we were about to carry it out ourselves. It was a unique glimpse into what a mission briefing during the war might have looked like. Afterward, we suited up in flight gear and watched a brief video depicting a typical wartime mission.
The museum also has two different escape rooms, each allowing 20 minutes to find the clues to escape. Unfortunately, our team did not make it through one of the rooms, but we had lots of fun and it was a great team-building exercise. After escaping, we were able to enjoy the rest of the museum and learned more about the time period.
Although I learned a lot about history in school, I’ve never experienced it quite like this. The interactive and engaging nature of the museum was eye-opening and made me reflect on the sacrifices of the brave soldiers who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. This museum offers a powerful perspective, and I believe everyone should visit at least once.
Plan your visit today and be sure to mention that Pennsylvania's Americana Region sent you!
