The United States Air Force Academy sits on 18,500 acres at the foot of the Rampart Range just north of Colorado Springs, and it is one of the most visited attractions in the state. Its new Hosmer Visitor Center, which opened in May 2026 just outside the North Gate, lets anyone explore cadet life, aviation history and the academy’s striking mid-century modern design for free, without needing a base pass.

The 34,000-square-foot General Bradley and Zita Hosmer Visitor Center is the easiest way to experience the academy today. It features seven themed galleries, interactive exhibits, immersive soundscapes and a 108-foot grand atrium framed by tall glass views of the Front Range. Look up to see a suspended glider, a nod to the airmanship programs cadets fly every year, and browse the large gift store before you go. The center sits next to the Hotel Polaris in the new TrueNorth Commons area off I-25 Exit 156, so it is simple to pair with lunch or a stay.

The academy graduated its first class in 1959 and is the youngest of the five U.S. service academies, with about 4,000 cadets in training. Its most famous landmark is the Cadet Chapel, designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and completed in 1962, with 17 aluminum-and-glass spires rising 150 feet. The chapel is wrapped in a long-term renovation and is closed to visitors, and access to the rest of the base now requires a sponsored pass and background check. Make a day of it in the Pikes Peak region with a stop at Garden of the Gods or the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

The Hosmer Visitor Center officially opened to the public on May 16, 2026 and is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The academy’s Pass and Registration Office will be closed on Oct. 31, so anyone with base business that day should check gate instructions on usafa.edu. The Trusted Traveler program remains suspended, and the Cadet Chapel is expected to stay closed for renovation until about 2028.