The grandest ballooning museum, located in the"Capital of Ballooning" — Albuquerque, New Mexico — is a reality!
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 1, 2005 for the 59,000 square feet facility dedicated to the history, science and art of ballooning and celebrating the high-flying pioneers of this centuries-old sport.
The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is owned and operated by the Cultural Services Department of the City of Albuquerque and supported by the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum Foundation.
The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is an educational institution of engaging exhibitions and informative programs on the history, science and art of ballooning.
The Museum encompasses an international, national and regional perspective demonstrating the global development of ballooning achievements through exhibitions, collections and programs designed for diverse audiences.
The Museum also showcases the adventurous spirit, endeavors and achievements of individual balloonists.
Museum Exhibits and Interaction
Since the first balloon flights in 1783, there have been many feats recorded in the story of Balloon flight. Hot air and gas balloons have been used for adventure, scientific experiments, the arts, warfare, espionage, and the exploration of space.
The exhibits designed for the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum will help the visitor see and understand how all this happened. Emphasis will be on the development of exhibits that combine historic artifacts with modern multi-media technology to create a sense of excitement as well as an educational environment.
The exhibit design focuses on the intergenerational audience with topics ranging from the general to the specific, the historic to the most recent ballooning feats.
How and Why Ballons Fly
- Balloon construction and equipment: envelopes, fuels, baskets and gondolas, burners, parachute valves
- Instruments: Altimeter, variometer, thermic probes and aeronautic radios
- Buoyancy: atmosphere and altitude
- Weather conditions and topography
- Triumphs and Tragedies
- First manned hot air and gas balloon fights, 1783
- Women aeronauts
- First manned balloon flight in the US, 1859
- Salomon Andree dies on expedition to the North Pole, 1897
Science
- Aerial photography
- Otto Winzens invention of new balloon materials
- James Van Allen, radiation belts
- Stratospheric flights and the Strato-lab Gondola
- Excelsor/Manhigh experiments
- Joe Kittinger world record for parachute jump
Recreational
- Barn-storming Balloon Events
- Smoke Balloons
- Shaped Balloons
- Gordon Bennett Competition
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Balloons in War
- Civil War Observation Balloons, 1860s
- Balloons and Air Mail during the Siege of Paris, 1870
- Barrage Balloons, World War I
- German's use of Zeppelins to bomb England, World War I
- Japanese Fu-Go Balloon Bombs and discovery of Jet Stream, World War II
- Radio Free Europe Pillow Balloons, 1950s
- Project Grab Bag over Russia, 1950s
- Homemade balloon escape from West Germany, 1979
Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The museum is closed Mondays and city Holidays.
Special hours will be posted during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Admission
$4.00 Adults (with $1.00 discount for New Mexico residents with a valid ID)
$2.00 Senior (65+)
$1.00 children, ages 4-12 under 3 FREE
The Balloon Museum is located at:
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Phone: (505) 768-6020
Directions to Museum
From I-25 take the Alameda Blvd. Exit, drive about 1 mile west on Alameda, Balloon Museum Drive is on the North side of Alameda. That will take you directly to the parking lot.
