HILL AIR FORCE BASE — A long-sought addition to the Hill Aerospace Museum is set to open its doors to the public next week.

According to a press release, officials soon will commemorate the completion and opening of the Alexander Hall and the L.S. Skaggs Gallery.

“An April 29 ribbon cutting ceremony will recognize the new gallery, a 91,000 square foot hangar needed provide more indoor space to better preserve the museum’s outdoor aircraft and develop new exhibits,” the release said. “The new gallery accounts for a 70 percent increase in indoor exhibition space.”

Museum Director Aaron Clark said in the release that the addition is a long time coming.

“The goal to realize this expansion has taken 10 years and we are thrilled to see it finally complete,” he said. “Now built, this new gallery affords us the incredible opportunity to expand on the storylines highlighting Utah’s and Hill Air Force Base’s rich aviation history for decades to come.”

The ribbon-cutting will include several speakers, including Col. Jeffrey Holland, Hill AFB commander; Kevin Sullivan, chairman of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah Chairman; Slade Opheikens, president and CEO of R&O Construction, which built the hangar; Taylor Woodbury, CEO of Woodbury Corp.; Sean Bennet, principal in charge of Nexus Architectural Firm, which designed the space, and others involved in the project.

While next Monday’s ribbon-cutting is not open to the public, the new exhibit space will be open to everyone on Thursday.

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