The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum tells the story of Monroe's significant role in American military aviation. During World War II, Selman Field in Monroe trained more military navigators than any other facility in the United States — over 45,000 men who went on to fly bombing missions over Europe and the Pacific. The museum preserves aircraft, navigational instruments, uniforms, and documents from that era.
Claire Chennault, the museum's namesake, was a Louisiana native who became one of the war's most famous commanders: his American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers, flew against Japanese forces in China before the US officially entered the war. The museum covers his career alongside the broader story of Monroe's wartime contribution. Several vintage aircraft are on outdoor display.