Where to Visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Person

Updated

The American Museum of Fly Fishing (amff.org) has two physical locations you can visit: its main campus in Manchester, Vermont, and a gallery in Springfield, Missouri. The Vermont campus is the primary destination for anyone who wants to see the museum's full collection of angling history, while the Missouri gallery is a smaller, embedded exhibit best suited to visitors already planning a trip to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.

Manchester, Vermont: The Main Campus

The museum's Vermont campus in Manchester houses its main collection of angling history. According to the museum, this includes over 40,000 artifacts from fly fishing legends, presidents, and everyday anglers alike.

This is the location to choose if you want the fullest museum experience. The collection spans the people, places, and objects that shaped the sport, and the museum describes itself as member-driven and committed to representing the entirety of fly fishing sport and culture.

Best for: Dedicated fly fishers, history enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to see the breadth of the collection in one place.

Springfield, Missouri: The Leigh H. Perkins Hall

The museum also maintains a gallery inside the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. This space, the Leigh H. Perkins Hall, displays treasures from the museum's permanent collection across more than 2,300 square feet.

Because it sits within a larger aquarium and wildlife museum, this gallery works well as part of a broader visit rather than as a standalone destination.

Best for: Travelers already visiting the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, or anyone in the Springfield area who wants a focused sample of the collection.

Comparing the Two Locations

Manchester, Vermont Springfield, Missouri
What it is Main museum campus Gallery within Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Scale Full collection, 40,000+ artifacts 2,300+ square feet of permanent-collection items
Best for A dedicated museum visit Adding fly fishing history to a larger aquarium/museum trip

What to Check Before You Go

The museum's website is the place to confirm details before traveling, since hours, admission, and program schedules can change.

  • Upcoming programs and events — the site lists programming you may want to time your visit around.
  • Digital programs — if you can't travel, AMFF offers remote-friendly options including a members-only forum, an online screening room, digital exhibits, webinars, and conservation classes.
  • Online collections database — the museum is working to digitally document its holdings and make cataloged records publicly accessible, which is useful for previewing artifacts before a visit.
  • Membership — the museum describes itself as member-driven, with membership offering exclusive benefits and a way to support its mission.

If your goal is to see as much of the collection as possible, plan around Manchester, Vermont. If you're already heading to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, the Springfield gallery is the convenient option.