The reimagined Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM) on the campus of the CLT Airport is an immersive storytelling and hands-on experience, with interactive exhibits to capture the imaginations of kids of all ages. The new museum galleries explore the planes, people, and industry of aviation in the Carolinas. More than 40 iconic aircraft, including the “Miracle on the Hudson” Airbus 320 salvaged from New York’s Hudson River, inspire visitors to pursue their dreams of taking flight and write their own stories into the future of aviation.

SAM's newest thematic gallery, Aviation City, opened to the public on May 31st 2025. Aviation City explores Charlotte's aviation history, the rapid growth of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and the key people that transformed Charlotte into the international hub it is today. Located inside the historic 1936 hangar, Aviation City holds five new aircraft including the Piedmont Airlines DC-3 and T-33 Shooting Star flight simulator experience.