Collections

Our 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
• A model of the Kitty Hawk gondola in which Maxie Anderson and Kristian Anderson crossed North America, 1980
• The original Double Eagle V gondola, 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. 

Our 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.

The museum's archival holdings contain historic documents, first-hand accounts of the intrepid voyages of balloonists of the past, rare books and other rich artifacts.