The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is the world’s premier facility dedicated to the art, culture, science, history, sport and spectacle of ballooning. The museum, which opened in 2005, features one of the world’s finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia. Set on the southern edge of Balloon Fiesta Park, the museum is a focal point in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Through innovative exhibits, the museum showcases the adventurous spirit, endeavors and achievements of individual balloonists, including several Albuquerque residents who continue to break records in 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, both part of the crews who first successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon in 1978 and the Pacific Ocean in 1981. While the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum celebrates the accomplishments of several New Mexico balloonists, its scope is international, with a reach that encompasses noteworthy adventures and achievements spanning the history of ballooning.
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. This story is told throughout the museum in interactive exhibits, historic facts, multi-media presentations and changing exhibits. (505) 768-6020 http://www.balloonmuseum.com