Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center

We stopped here while heading north on hwy 200 and drive around Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in Idaho.  After heading west on the north side of the lake we headed south on hwy 95.  A few miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho, we traveled down a long winding road to this museum after we called if there was parking for our rig.  We spent a good three hours at this museum which was free, but they ask for a $5 donation per person.  The volunteers were very informative, friendly, and helpful.  We did enjoy some home made vegetable soup before we left.
Forest Bird was an inventor and pilot who lived 94 years and died in August 2015.  His second wife died in a plane crash at age 59 just 2 months after his death and is still under investigation.  Google Forrest Bird and wikipedia has great wealth of information on his inventions.  The first floor had refurbished aircraft, military awards and medals, and gift shop, while the top floor was dedicated to his many inventions and copies of patents.  There was another hanger with more planes, old cars, and motorcycles on this 250+ acre compound.  The last picture was a 1927 model T ford which was the first year a Ford came in a color other than black (green).  It was also the first year that came with an automatic starter, you did not have to crank it to start.  The car to the right was a 1928 Model A Ford which replaced the Model T.  It was a worthwhile detour.