California Science Center: This is the second year we are contributing to this museum. This museum needs no introduction. This is one of the few Science Museums which has free admission. This is the home of the Space Shuttle Endeavour (which had been to space 25 times). In a few years, a brand-new exhibit built around Endeavour, with an External Tank and a pair of Solid Rocket Boosters, will be ready, making it the only exhibit of its kind in the world.
Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, CA: This is the second year we are contributing to this museum. This is an amazing museum with several historic planes, with most of them flight worthy. The highlight of the museum is the Flying Demo on the first Saturday of each month. An informative Hangar Talk precedes each Flying Demo. Most of the renovations, upgrades and maintenance of all the aircrafts, if not all, are performed by an amazing set of volunteers. Recently, an annex for this museum was opened in Santa Maria, CA, near Santa Barbara.
American Space Museum and Walk of Fame, Titusville, FL: We denoted again to this museum. This museum just completed their annual ‘Shuttlefest’ event. They are planning to have much bigger event for the ‘Shuttlefest 2025’, the theme being ‘Hubble Space Telescope’. This museum has artifacts donated by individuals, astronauts, space workers, NASA and contractors. It is run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. They conduct many space related activities: astronaut book signing, annual Apollo 1, Columbia and Challenger memorials, and in the last few years have started ‘ Stay Curious Broadcasts’.
Central Community Historical Society, DewItt IA: When we were visiting the high school and thehometown of astronaut David Hilmers, we came across this excellent museum in DeWItt, IA. In addition to David Hilmers, they had collected information on the other two Iowa astronauts George Pinky Nelson and Dale Gardner. They also have artifacts related to the local history. We donated to this museum. A notable collection was teh scrap book prepared the astronauts mother, which she gave to the museum.
Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar, MN: While visiting the high school and the hometown of space shuttle astronaut George Pinky Nelson, we visited this local history museum. It was an amazing museum preserving the local history and also artifacts related to the astronaut. They also have a historic steam locomotive that has been preserved.