20 Years of Joy!
On October 1, 2005, the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum officially opened its doors to the Albuquerque community and the world! This year marks the Balloon Museum’s 20th birthday, and a new exhibition celebrating this milestone is now open.
20 Years of Joy! is part experiential exhibit, part art installation. It evokes the joy and wonder of ballooning while also reflecting on the Museum’s history. Objects on display include memorabilia from the Anderson family collection dating back to 1983, the year the Balloon Museum was first imagined. These objects are juxtaposed with an overstory of colorful balloon envelope fabric that invites visitors to look up, while being immersed in color. The Balloon Museum was born out of innovation, inspires the kid in all of us, and imagines a bright future.
As part of the exhibition, current staff members were asked to choose some of their favorite objects from the Soukup & Thomas Collection. This collection makes up a large part of the Museum’s permanent collection and played a major role in the Museum’s early days. Some “staff picks” are already on display throughout the Museum, while others have been arranged inside the new exhibition.
A highlight in the exhibit is an AI generated interactive that takes your photo and creates a balloon inspired by you! There is space to be creative and for visitors to let us know what you love about the Balloon Museum.
During the exhibit opening, guests were invited to tell us their memories of the Balloon Museum memories over the years.
Stay tuned for more as we have more programs throughout this year of celebration!