The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a museum dedicated to educating the public on the history, science, and art of hot-air ballooning and ‘lighter-than-air’ flight.
Established and run by the non-profit organization, the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation, the 55,000 square-foot museum is located in the town of Albuquerque in New Mexico and is designed in a way that architecturally correlates to an inflating balloon at the entry and an already-inflated balloon in the main gallery, which is 75 feet high. The museum is conveniently situated right next to the vast open grounds used for world's largest annual balloon fiesta, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an annual nine-day festival of hot air balloons that takes place during early October and features over 500 balloons every, making it the biggest hot air balloon festival in the world.
The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is named after two Albuquerque natives, Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson, who were famous for setting several firsts in the ballooning world, such as continent and ocean-crossings. The Museum was opened in 2005 and features over 59,000 square feet of space, which includes a variety of exhibits and displays about the history of ballooning and various items and pieces from world-renowned balloonists such as Joseph Kittinger, Ed Yost and Ben Abruzzo himself, classrooms and conference rooms, and a museum shop. Next read: 25 Best Things to Do in Albuquerque
Exhibits
The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum features an array of exhibits and displays that showcase the history and development of ballooning since 1783, ranging from hot air and gas ballooning used for adventure, warfare, and the arts to scientific experiments, espionage, and the exploration of space. Exhibitions combine historic artifacts with modern multi-media technology to create an educational experience like no other.
Exhibits include ‘How and Why Balloons Fly’ which explores a variety of types of balloons, including hot air and gas balloons, the first manned hot air and gas balloon fights in the late 1700s and flights over land and water, the construction of balloons, their instruments and how they actually fly, and the triumphs and tragedies associated with ballooning.
The Science Exhibit covers aerial photography from balloons, various experiments by well-known scientists such as James Van Allen, Excelsor and Manhigh, stratospheric flights, and the world record parachute jump by Joe Kittinger.
The Recreational Exhibit explores special shaped balloons, male and female aeronauts, barn-storming, and the renowned Gordon Bennett Competition and Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Balloons in War delves into the use of balloons during wartime, with particular focus on the American Civil War of the 1860s, the Siege of Paris in 1870, Barrage Balloons and Germany's use of Zeppelins to bomb England during World War I, Japanese Fugo Balloon Bombs and the subsequent discovery of the Jet Stream during World War II.
Education
The Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation offers and supports several educational programs for all ages.
The Flying Bus Program covers the cost of admission to the museum for schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools system. Stories in the Sky is a weekly, award winning story time aimed at preschoolers that incorporates music, movement, arts and crafts in the areas of education and science. The Science in the Sky Program is geared towards elementary and middle schoolers and features special, entertaining educational programs and school tours.
Plan Your Visit
The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation hosts several events throughout the year in support of the museum. Red, White & Balloons is a special 4th July celebration with picnics, games and fireworks. The Chic-I-Boom Ball is the Museum’s premier annual fundraising ball which generates funds for the educational programs at the Museum, and Manhattan on the Mesa is the Museum’s special New Year’s Eve function, which includes a delicious dinner, live music and dancing, raffles and prizes, and an exclusive balloon glow and toast as the ball drops in New York’s Times Square.
The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum is available to rent for private functions and celebrations, such as weddings, meetings or birthday parties. The award-winning structure features vast open spaces with breathtaking vistas of the Sandia Mountains and offers an ideal venue for entertaining. The Museum offers a range of packages for all types of functions, which include approved food/beverage vendors, decorators, event planners and crew, and catering staff.
The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum is home to the Balloon Museum Shoppe which features a range of traditional and non-traditional balloon-themed gift items, books, clothing, ornaments and other memorabilia. The Museum Shoppe is open Tuesday through Sunday throughout the year and all proceeds from sales are used by the Foundation to support education and exhibit programs of the Museum.
9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, Phone: 505-880-0500
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