Flying high: Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a treasure trove of industry history

Sep. 24—Editor's note: The last Sunday of each month, Journal Arts Editor Adrian Gomez tells the stories behind some of the hidden gems you can see across the state in "Gimme Five."

Upon entering the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum in Balloon Fiesta Park, the items on display will have you looking up to the sky.

There are pieces of hot air balloon history right up close and personal.

The space, which was opened in 2005, is the world's premier balloon museum facility dedicated to the art, culture, science, history, sport and spectacle of ballooning.

It features one of the world's finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia — a perfect fit as Albuquerque is known for ballooning.

Lynne Newton is the exhibitions curator at the Balloon Museum and gets to work hands-on with many items — over 30,000 to be exact.

Since the first balloon flight in 1783, hot air and gas balloons have been used for adventure, scientific experiments, the arts, warfare, espionage and space exploration.

Newton and the staff at the museum work to create interactive exhibits that tell the long history of ballooning.

Not to mention that there are several N.M. connections to the ballooning world. The museum is named after two Albuquerque pilots who were pioneers in long-distance helium balloon flight — Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson — who were part of the crews who first successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon in 1978 and the Pacific Ocean in 1981.

Visiting once, guests wouldn't be able to see the thousands of museum pieces.

Newton broke it down to five items to see, just in time to whet the appetite before the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins on Oct. 7.

1. Scoreboard from the First World Hot Air Balloon Championship

Newton says it is a handwritten scoreboard from the First World Hot Air Balloon Championship, which was held in Albuquerque in conjunction with the second Balloon Fiesta in 1973.

"The Balloon Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the championship with new displays in the 'Canopy of Color: Celebrating Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta' exhibit," Newton says. "The scoreboard is on loan from the Sid Cutter estate."

Look closely at the scoreboard and the name A. Sandel is on the list. Newton says Sandel is from the Netherlands and is the only woman pilot on the list.

2. Service ware from the Hindenburg and the Graf Zeppelin

Newton says the Graf Zeppelin was the first airship to make an around the world flight in 1929. The Hindenburg flew across the Atlantic numerous times in 1936.

"Passengers flew with modern comforts and luxury on these airships, including dining on fine porcelain," she says.

3. Zeppelin shaped cocktail shaker

Newton says in the early 20th century, people the world over became enamored with airships and the promise of long-distance travel by air.

"Airships became a part of pop culture and were seen everywhere from children's toys to everyday items around the house," she says. "Dating from the 1920s, this is a cocktail shaker in the shape of an airship. The gondola holds a set of spoons in place."

4. Ed Yost Trail

Ed Yost is known as the "Father of the modern hot air balloon," Newton explains.

"As an engineer and balloon builder, Yost's legacy includes building the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic in 1963, built Ben and Maxie's famous Double Eagle II gas balloon trans-Atlantic flight in 1978, and was a key to bringing the Gordon Bennett gas balloon race back after World War II," she says.

The Balloon Museum is celebrating Yost in a new exhibit, but is also highlighting his contributions and accomplishments throughout existing exhibits — look for the Ed Yost icon to learn more.

5. Henry Helm Clayton lantern slides

Newton says Henry Helm Clayton was a gas balloon pilot and meteorologist who competed in the 1907 Gordon Bennett race that launched from St. Louis.

"He took the beautiful photographs seen here as lantern slides," she says. "He also traveled the country giving lectures about wind and ballooning. His lecture notes and balloon license are also in this case."