Collections

Our special collections include:

• Silver Fox gondola, in which Ed Yost made an Atlantic-crossing attempt
• Zanussi Gondola
• Re-creation of Double Eagle II gondola, first manned balloon to cross Atlantic Ocean, 1978
• Kitty Hawk gondola in which Maxie Anderson and Kristian Anderson crossed North America, 1980
• Double Eagle V, First crossing of the Pacific Ocean by manned balloon (Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman, Ron Clark, Rocky Aoki), 1981
• Joe Kittinger, Rosie O' Grady, solo Atlantic Ocean flight

Special Features

Other unique museum experiences include an in-depth visual replay of the world-record breaking adventures of New Mexico's own fabled pilots Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo with a salute to those who helped make the flights possible: Ed Yost, Joe Kittinger, Bob Rice, "Doc" Wiley, Richard Schwoebel, and Jim Mitchell. 

The New Mexico Adventure

A virtual reality ride of adventure through New Mexico will be featured. This incredible experience will demonstrate from a Balloon perspective the spectacular scenery of the "enchanted" state rarely seen by the general public from this unique perspective. 

Special Historic and Collections Feature

Rare and unusual museum objects and documents relating to the origins of ballooning collected by Jacques Soukup and Kirk Thomas. The Soukup & Thomas Collection, donated to the museum by the City of Mitchell, South Dakota, brings to a complete circle the history of this fascinating, romantic and courageous sport.

Through the museum's library and archives one can find first-hand newspaper accounts of the intrepid voyages of balloonists of the past.