AUGUST 28, 2014. NEAR SANDPOINT, IDAHO.
Way off the beaten path in a forest near Lake Pend Oreille, we found this Museum and Invention Center. Fascinating.
THIS IS NO ORDINARY MUSEUM. And it has nothing to do with flying animals or aviaries. Rather, the museum memorializes the life, times and accomplishments of Dr. Forrest Bird, currently 93 years of age, who personally welcomed us to the large hanger where many of the collections are displayed. Where is the place? This is interesting…The location is about 15 miles off Highway 95 in the Idaho back country near Lake Pend Oreille, in the tiny town of Sagle, not far from Sandpoint. That’s a mouthful, but it’s an accurate description of where we found this fascinating little museum. A very strange spot for it, I thought, but who cares? Here we are…
FORREST BIRD, PHD. The museum’s namesake, Forrest M. Bird, is an American aviator, inventor and biomedical engineer. He is best known for creating some of the first reliable mass-produced mechanical ventilators for acute and chronic cardiopulmonary patient care. He has taught hundreds of medical professionals throughout the world to care for the most critically ill heart-lung patients, resulting in countless lives being saved. Doc, as Bird is affectionately known by the docents, says “The Aviation Museum and Invention Center strives to educate visitors about the historic contributions of aviators and innovators who have helped create modern technology and to celebrate these individuals who have forever changed the way we live. It only takes one person to change the world.” He should know. He did it.
AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION. Military aviation, medical technology and invention are the themes represented by the very eclectic collections in this museum. Dr. Bird was an aviator during the Second World War, whose research into high altitude airplane cockpit ventilation eventually led him to develop medical devices for acute cardiopulmonary care, still used world-wide. Exhibits include vintage airplanes, well-known and not-so-well-known inventions and medical pulmonary equipment. Donations over the years have embellished the collection with fascinating World War II paraphernalia and wartime vintage autos. If you visit northern Idaho, be sure to spend an afternoon at this worthwhile museum. And say hello to Dr. Bird for me. Another “interesting American” and quite a gentleman.
World War II vintage aircraft.
World War II vintage aircraft.
US Armed Services uniforms of World War II.
Can you guess the year, make and model?
