Wings of Wonder: Visiting the Spruce Goose in Oregon

If you’ve ever been curious about aviation history, engineering feats, or just standing in awe under something absurdly massive, then a visit to see the Spruce Goose should absolutely be on your travel radar. Marcus is a big fan of the Spruce Goose, so in December 2024 when we were in Oregon, we made a detour to McMinnville, Oregon, to visit the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, home to the largest wooden aircraft ever built!

Inside the Spruce Goose

Getting There

McMinnville is about an hour and a half southwest of Portland, or hour and half north of Eugene. It’s a pretty drive — rolling hills, vineyards, and the occasional rain-soaked barn. But let’s be real — the star of the show and the real reason anyone drives to McMinnville is for one giant, gray bird.

The museum is impossible to miss: a sleek glass structure with the nose of a literal airplane bursting out the front, flanked by a retired space shuttle replica and an old military jet.

The Legend

Officially known as the Hughes H-4 Hercules, this aircraft was the brainchild of eccentric billionaire and aviation mogul Howard Hughes during World War II. Built almost entirely from wood (due to wartime metal restrictions), it was meant to be a massive cargo plane that could carry troops and equipment over long distances.

Fun fact? Despite its size and hype, the Spruce Goose flew only once — for just under a mile — in 1947.

Also: it’s not even made of spruce. It’s mostly birch.

What to expect

Walking into the main hangar is honestly a jaw-drop moment. The Spruce Goose towers over everything. You can literally fit a Boeing 747 under its wingspan. It feels like someone parked a building inside another building.

For an extra entrance fee we paid to go on a guided tour inside the cargo hold — yes, inside the actual Spruce Goose. There’s a glass floor panel so you can peek down into the belly of this wooden beast. The cockpit tour is optional (extra fee) but totally worth it if you’re into aviation or just want to say you’ve sat where Howard Hughes once did.

Even beyond visiting the Spruce Goose, the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is definitely worth the visit. The museum has a number of other aircraft, from WWI biplanes to Cold War jets. And there’s a full space wing building next door, with a Titan II missile and actual space capsules on display.

Highlights include:

• A SR-71 Blackbird (that sleek spy plane you see in movies)

• A mock-up of the Lunar Module

• Interactive exhibits for kids (and grown-ups who are kids at heart)

• A retired NASA training capsule you can sit in

The Spruce Goose isn’t just a plane — it’s a slice of American history, ambition, wrapped in wood, myth, and a little madness. Seeing it in person is a surreal experience, like walking into a forgotten chapter of history. Whether you’re an aviation buff, a museum lover, or just road-tripping through Oregon, put this on your itinerary. It’s not every day you get to stand under the largest flying boat in the world.