The Legacy of the Lockheed U-2

The Dragon Lady Has Landed. Help Preserve Her Legacy

The Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" is now proudly displayed in Heritage Park at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History—and visitors can't stop talking about it.

This legendary high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft played a pivotal role in some of the most important moments of the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis. For more than 70 years, the U-2 has provided critical intelligence that shaped global security and helped prevent conflict.

Now, it's our responsibility to ensure this remarkable aircraft remains preserved for future generations.

Help protect the U-2 for years to come!

DONATE TODAY!

Why the U-2 Matters

Every day, Museum visitors stand beneath the Dragon Lady's soaring wings and experience history in a powerful, tangible way.

For more than 78,000 annual visitors—including families, veterans, aviation enthusiasts, engineers, and students—the U-2 serves as a reminder of the innovation, courage, and intelligence capabilities that helped shape the nuclear age.

For Students

The U-2 inspires curiosity across STEM disciplines, connecting aeronautics, engineering, physics, photography, materials science, and geopolitics.

For Veterans and the Intelligence Community

The aircraft honors generations of service members and civilian professionals whose work often took place out of public view but had a worldwide impact.

For All Visitors

The Dragon Lady transforms Cold War history from something read in a textbook into an experience that can be seen, explored, and remembered.

Why the U-2 Belongs Here

The U-2's story is deeply connected to the Museum's mission and to New Mexico's unique role in the nuclear age.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, U-2 reconnaissance photographs provided definitive evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba, informing decisions that helped avert nuclear war.

Its legacy also intersects with New Mexico's scientific and military history through Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Kirtland Air Force Base—institutions that helped shape the modern strategic landscape.

The Dragon Lady represents the intersection of science, technology, intelligence, and national security that the Museum works to preserve and interpret every day.

The Challenge: Preserving a Black Aircraft in the New Mexico Sun

The U-2 was engineered to operate at the edge of space—not endure decades of exposure to the intense high-desert environment.

Its iconic black finish faces unique preservation challenges:

• Intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Extreme temperature fluctuations
• Paint degradation and surface wear
• Long-term effects of outdoor exposure

Without ongoing conservation, these environmental factors can gradually impact the aircraft's appearance and structural integrity.

Our Goal: $75,000 U-2 Conservation Fund

Your support will establish a dedicated preservation fund to ensure the Dragon Lady receives the specialized care it requires.

Funds will support:

✓ Advanced UV-resistant protective coatings

✓ Routine inspections and preventative maintenance

✓ Conservation treatments performed by trained professionals

✓ Long-term preservation planning and monitoring

Rather than waiting for deterioration, this fund enables the Museum to proactively protect one of the most significant aircraft in Heritage Park.

Giving Levels & Recognition

$25,000+ — Mission Leadership Partner

• Prominent recognition on the U-2 interpretive display
• All Particle Partner corporate benefits
• Invitation to an exclusive annual leadership briefing
• Commemorative U-2 plaque
• U-2 Challenge Coin

$10,000–$24,999 — Strategic Partner

• Recognition on interpretive display
• Atomic Associate corporate benefits
• Invitation to an exclusive annual leadership briefing
• Commemorative U-2 plaque
• U-2 Challenge Coin

$5,000–$9,999 — Strategic Partner

• Recognition on interpretive display
• Invitation to annual leadership briefing
• Oppenheimer Level Membership
• U-2 Challenge Coin

$2,500–$4,999 — Heritage Park Steward

• Listing on donor panel
• Fermi Level Membership
• U-2 Challenge Coin

$1,000–$2,499 — Dragon Lady Supporter

• Listing on donor panel
• Seaborg Level Membership
• U-2 Challenge Coin

Gifts of any amount are welcome.