From the earliest aircraft engines built in Muskegon to precision aerospace parts still manufactured here today, the city has long helped get things off the ground. On Saturday, October 3, the Muskegon Heritage Museum of Business and Industry dedicates its final free Community Day of the 2026 season to Air Travel, exploring the county's contributions to aviation manufacturing. 

Admission is free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum's downtown location, 561 W. Western Ave. Air Travel marks the sixth and final installment of the museum's 2026 Community Days series, presented by Verplank. 

Visitors will have the chance to see the museum's Continental Motors exhibit, which showcases engines built by the Muskegon-based manufacturer (now RENK America), including a 4-cylinder aircraft engine and a 7-cylinder radial engine, alongside photos and history of the company's operations. The day also highlights Howmet Aerospace, which traces its roots to 1952 and continues to produce jet and gas turbine engine parts using titanium, superalloys, and aluminum, while remaining one of Muskegon County's largest employers today. 

October's celebration is made possible by Verplank, RENK, and Automated Industrial Motion (AIM). Verplank continues as the presenting sponsor of the full Community Days series, while RENK America, now a manufacturer of mobility systems for military vehicles, and AIM, a West Michigan producer of spring coiling and wire-forming machinery, support this month's program. 

"Muskegon's manufacturing legacy extends well beyond the road and the water. It shaped aviation too," said Site Manager Kirk Bunke. "This exhibit is a chance to see aviation's place in Muskegon's industrial history up close." 

October 3 closes out the 2026 Community Days series, which has explored the transportation networks that shaped Muskegon County one Saturday each month from May through October. 

Community Days are free and open to the public; no registration is required. This year's series is additionally supported by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Freedom 250. 

More information is available at muskegonheritage.org.