The museum was established by West Texas engineer, rancher and oilman John T. MacGuire and his wife Betty MacGuire. As pilots, they began collecting warbirds after encountering them in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1979. As the collection grew, they looked for a place to build a museum to display their collection. After considering several options such as Las Cruces, New Mexico and Reno, Nevada, John decided to build the museum closer to their home near the
Doña Ana County International Airport. The facility unofficially opened to the public on 13 September 1989. The museum completed a expansion in 1996. == Aircraft ==