Albuquerque, NM - Dr. Tom Crouch, Senior Curator of Aeronautics for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will host and attend several events at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Albuquerque Balloon Museum during this year's Balloon Fiesta.

September 30, 4:30 p.m. - FAI Ballooning Commission International Hall of Fame:
Dr. Crouch will be one, among several presenters, at the FAI Ballooning Commission International Hall of Fame ceremony. Albuquerque's Balloon Museum was recently selected to be the new home of the Hall of Fame. Crouch will join many other well known ballooning enthusiasts as the community welcomes the Hall of Fame to the Balloon Museum.

October 1, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. - Book Signing:
Balloon Museum guests will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Crouch during a book signing for his book "Lighter Than Air: An Illustrated History of Balloons and Airships."

October 3, 1 p.m. - "Mr. Lincoln's Air Force" Presentation:
Historians and ballooning enthusiasts can attend Dr. Crouch's "Mr. Lincoln's Air Force" presentation on balloon use during the Civil War.

Dr. Crouch has been an avid supporter of the Balloon Museum since its inception in 2005, describing it as "The only large public museum entirely devoted to a broad consideration of the past, present and future of lighter-than-air flight."

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum opened its doors to the public on October 1, 2005 and today contains one of the finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia in the world. Named in honor of Albuquerque balloonists Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo, the Balloon Museum features over 25,000 square feet of exhibition space and is home to the original Double Eagle V gondola flown by Hall of Fame inductees Clark, Newman and Aoki on their Pacific crossing. During Balloon Fiesta, dual-tickets granting admission to one Balloon Fiesta session and to the Balloon Museum will be available for $8. Standard admission costs are $4 for adults, $3 for New Mexico residents, $2 for seniors 65+, $1 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under.