International Women's Air & Space Museum

10/09/2023

The museum office will be closed today in recognition of Indigenous People’s Day, and will reopen tomorrow 10/10. The International Women's Air & Space Museum recognizes the land upon which we reside in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, and expresses our gratitude and appreciation to those who lived and worked here before us; those whose stewardship and resilient spirit makes our residence possible on this traditional homeland of the Lenape (Delaware), Shawnee, Wyandot Miami, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and other Great Lakes tribes (Chippewa, Kickapoo, Wea, Pinakahsw, and Kaskaskia). We also acknowledge the thousands of American Indians who now call Northeast Ohio home.

09/28/2023

We were so excited to welcome Kathy Sullivan earlier this month…just one week before her enshrinement in the National Aviation Hall of Fame! Thank you to Betsy Kling - WKYC Weather for sharing your excitement and encouragement of growing STEM with this amazing interview of Sullivan.

Click the link to watch the full interview!

Dr. Kathy Sullivan is a three-time astronaut and dove the depths of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, becoming the most vertical-traveled person in history.

09/09/2023

The museum office, gift shop, and exhibits are closed today and tomorrow for the Cleveland Browns game. Reminder that exhibits are open seven days a week from 8-8:00, and our crew will be back in the office Monday-Friday from 10-4:00! In the meantime, please send any questions to our [email protected] email. Thank you!

09/07/2023

Join us next Friday as we welcome former NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan to the museum! In-person tickets close next Wednesday. Hear about her experience as one of the first American women for the NASA astronaut corps (1978), her record setting work becoming the first person to visit BOTH the deepest section of our oceans (Challenger Deep) and space, and learn about what’s ahead the “New Space Age.” Click the link to learn more!

"Dinner with a Slice of History" welcomes retired NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan!

09/06/2023

T-minus 8 days until we welcome NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan back to the museum! Read on for all the details, mark your calendars for all that October will have in store and so much more. Click the 🔗 to learn more...https://conta.cc/3RcYk7K

Check out upcoming events and so much more!   IWASM Monthly eNews September 2023 Edition Upcoming Events When: Friday, September 15, 2023 Time: Dinner-5:30, Program-6:00 Format: Hybrid The new Space

09/05/2023

And that’s a wrap! This action packed week has drawn to a close and so will the office and gift shop. The museum office and gift shop will be closed until Tuesday, September 12 to allow our team some much needed time to recharge after Corks on the Concourse and an AMAZING Cleveland National Air Show weekend! Exhibits are still open for self-guided tours. We look forward to seeing you soon!

08/30/2023

Only a few more days to enter for a chance to win two (2) round-trip tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies! The winner will be announced at Corks on the Concourse on Friday, Sept. 1. $10 per entry with all proceeds supporting the ongoing mission of the International Women's Air & Space Museum. Click the link to learn more!

Enter to win 2 Round-Trip Tickets on Southwest and support IWASM!

08/30/2023

Basketball season is just around the corner. Secure two (2) seats for the Cleveland Cavaliers November 20, 2023, game against the Portland Trailblazer. About the seats:

Section 101
Row 13
Seats 7 & 8

Proceeds from the Corks on the Concourse auction provide crucial support for IWASM. Bidding ends at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 1. Questions? Email our team at [email protected].

Courtesy of IWASM Trustee and Cleveland Cavs season ticket holder, secure two (2) seats for the Cavs game against the Portland Trailblazers on November 30, 2023. About the seats:

08/29/2023

Want to explore Ohio's Wine Country with a luxurious weekend getaway? This gift certificate to the The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake is just the ticket! Enjoy the views of Geneva-on-the-Lake, explore the countless Ohio Wineries, dine in a sought after restaurant. Not sure of dates to travel? No problem! This certificate is valid through August 2025. Don't miss your chance to explore the rich, and robust wine scene in Northeast Ohio!

Proceeds from the Corks 2023 auction provide crucial support for IWASM. Bidding closes at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 1. Questions? Contact our team at [email protected]

Want to explore Ohio's Wine Country with a luxurious weekend getaway? This gift certificate to the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is just the ticket! Enjoy the views of Geneva-on-the-Lake, explore the countless Ohio Wineries, dine in a sought after restaurant. Not sure of dates to travel? No problem! T...

08/29/2023

Get your hands on this autographed copy of "Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery" by retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, and the limited edition USA Today commemorating the final shuttle mission. All proceeds from the Corks on the Concourse 2023 auction provides crucial support for IWASM. Bidding ends at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 1. Questions? Email our team at [email protected].

"Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery" by retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and the special edition USA Today newspaper commemorating the end of the Space Shuttle Program. The book is autographed by Kelly.

08/28/2023

Not only are we looking forward to Corks on the Concourse 2023, but we're also excited for week one of the 2023 NFL season. Know a Cleveland Browns super fan? Click the link to get an authentic autographed 3 ft X 5 ft flag signed by David Bell. Proceeds from the Corks 2023 auction provide crucial support for IWASM. Thank you to our neighbors the Cleveland Browns for their generous support!

Bidding closes at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 1. Questions? Contact our team at [email protected]!

This 3 ft X 5 ft autographed Cleveland Browns flag is signed by Wide Receiver David Bell. Donated by the Cleveland Browns, this is perfect for the die-hard Browns fan!

08/27/2023

The International Women's Air & Space Museum auction is now online ahead of Corks on the Concourse this Friday, 9/1! Whether you attend in person or can't make it this year, head to the link below to bid on great items. 100% of all proceeds go to support the mission of the museum to preserve, educate, and inspire our communities about the roles of women in air and space! We'll highlight some of the individual items this week. Don't miss out!

🔗https://bit.ly/3Ecxkxi

The auction ends at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 1, 2023. Questions? Email [email protected].

08/15/2023

Join us on September 1 as we honor the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Sarah Byrn Rickman!For the past 30 years, Rickman has made it her mission to share the experiences of women in all areas of air and space with communities and readers around the world. Check out the video and don't miss your chance to meet Sarah Rickman in a couple of weeks, share her passion through the support of the museum, and even get a signed copy of one of her many books!

Click the link to RSVP to Corks on the Concourse 2023: https://bit.ly/3NloAca

08/11/2023

We're a little over two weeks from the end of ticket sales! Join us for Corks on the Concourse 2023 for what will certainly be a night to remember! Click the 🔗 to secure your seat today!

We're less than three weeks away... Less than 3 Weeks until....   When: Friday, September 1, 2023 Where: IWASM/Burke Lakefront Airport Hi International Women's! We're less than three weeks away from t

08/11/2023

You may have noticed that we’ve been a little quiet on social media yet our team has been busy ! One of our projects, including planning the next Corks on the Concourse on 9/1/2023, is our National Endowment for the Humanities preservation assistance grant project. This week, we installed some of our new shelving. Thanks to funding from NEH, we can FINALLY improve our collections storage practices to ensure the continued care of the museum’s one of a kind collections. In order to make room for the shelves, we are getting rid of the previously used file cabinets. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

For 25 years, these held many different artifact types including textiles, buttons, pins, ceramics, glass, trophies, scrapbooks, and so much more. These are not ideal for the continued preservation of these historical collections. We still have more shelves to install, and the 1 remaining cabinet NEEDS TO GO.

Dimensions: (HxWxD) 50"x16"x25.5"
Condition: Ranging in manufacturing years between 1980-2000, the cabinets are in great condition.
Pick-Up Only Must be claimed no later than August 16 (next Wednesday).

We’re asking for a minimal donation to help us in our continuing efforts to preserve the one of a kind collections. They are great metal/steel cabinets that have a lot of life left in them. If you or anyone you know is interested, have them email [email protected].

08/11/2023

The museum office, gift shop, and exhibits are closed today for the Cleveland Browns preseason game. Reminder that exhibits are open seven days a week from 8-8:00, and our crew will be back in the office Monday-Friday from 10-4:00! In the meantime, please send any questions to our [email protected] email. Thank you!

07/28/2023

Join us on Sept. 1 for Corks on the Concourse! Secure your tickets now to....engage in an exclusive wine tasting experience and test your air and space trivia knowledge. Join us as we honor the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: World War II historian, pilot, mentor, women in air and space advocate, author Sarah Byrn Rickman.

Can't make it? Consider making a donation in honor of our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient's joint mission with IWASM to preserve, educate, and inspire our communities about women in all areas of air and space.

Click the 🔗to learn more about our annual hybrid event!

Get your tickets before they're gone! Upcoming Events   When: Friday, September 1, 2023 Where: IWASM/Burke Lakefront Airport Corks on the Concourse (aka Corks) has been IWASM’s annual fundraising even

07/20/2023

While July 20 might be an important date in space history for the first landing on the Moon, it also marks a very significant date for one woman pioneer in aerospace. Wally Funk, the youngest member of the Mercury 13 women, had always wanted to fly in space since taking the physical and psychological tests during the early 1960’s that the Mercury 7 male astronauts had taken. NASA said no to women astronauts in the 1960’s. Funk had to wait until July 20, 2021 when, at age 82, she flew on the first crewed flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket with Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark and a paying customer.
The suborbital flight itself only lasted slightly over 10 minutes but she made history as the only member of the Mercury 13 women to fly in space. When the flight was over, Funk asked if she could do it again. Perhaps she will have that chance as she is one of the customers who have paid $250,000 to fly on Virgin Galactic suborbital flights. Their first paying customer (not Wally Funk) is finally set to fly in August after many years of delays.

05/21/2023

Get ready to watch Peggy Whitson launch once again to the International Space Station (ISS) today, May 21, 2023, at 5:37 pm EDT. She is the recordholder for the most cumulative time in space for any American at 665 days. This time around Whitson, who was the first woman to command the ISS, will be the first woman to command a private mission to the space station. She will fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after having flown previously to space on a space shuttle and a Russian Soyuz rocket.

​Whitson, who retired from NASA in 2018, is now the director of human spaceflight for Axiom Space. Joining her on the Axiom 2 mission will be three space rookies. Two are from Saudi Arabia. Rayyanah Barnawi will become the first female astronaut from Saudi Arabia. In an Axiom Space press conference before launch, Barnawi said, “this is a dream come true.” The pilot will be businessman John Shoffner from Tennessee and Ali Aqarni, a fighter pilot in the Royal Saudi Air Force rounds out the crew. The Axiom 2 crew will spend about eight days docked to the ISS.
​
The museum sells an exclusive patch honoring Whitson’s amazing space legacy that was designed by space artist Tim Gagnon. It’s for sale at: https://eshop.iwasm.org/index.php?id_product=347&controller=product

View all the pre-launch and launch activity on NASA-TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg

05/16/2023

It's back! Looking for a way to support the museum, while also thinking about your dream getaway destination? Enter for a chance to win 2 (two) round trip tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies! All proceeds from the raffle support the museum. Entry deadline is 11:30 p.m. EDT on FRIDAY, JUNE 16.
✈No limit on number of entries
✈$10 per entry
✈Winner does not need to be present at time of drawing

Check out the link to learn more and enter! https://bit.ly/3M8hhVS

05/05/2023

Make plans to join us NEXT FRIDAY (5/12) for our new special public program: Coffee & Collections!

that at any given time, only 2% of the museum’s collection is ever on exhibit? During Coffee & Collections, our Collections Manager Liz will share some of the artifacts and history of the Whirly-Girls International. Also, hear from a Whirly herself, Pat Brady! Not only is Pat one of our stellar members, but she was also the 1st Sky Fox helicopter reporters for Fox 8 News!

Reserve your spot now and plan on some scrumptious goodies thanks to our official partner Phoenix Coffee!

Register now: https://bit.ly/3ZIU7ZY or call 216-623-1111.

04/28/2023

All civilian transportation accident investigations are overseen at the highest level by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Founded in 1967, the NTSB investigates aviation and surface transportation accidents, coordinates federal assistance to accident victims, and provides safety recommendations to transportation authorities.

In 1973, the NTSB appointed its first female judge: The Honorable Judge Joyce Capps. Judge Capps made history as the first woman to serve as an Administrative Law Judge, serving for 19 years. In her career, she reviewed appeals from actions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration and made judicial decisions regarding aviation safety.

Image: A plaque presented to The Honorable Joyce Capps upon her 1992 retirement from the NTSB. IWASM 1992.36.2

04/27/2023

Join us for our exclusive event: Coffee & Collections on Friday, May 12 at 5:30 pm!

Did you know that the International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM) has close to 20,000 collections items? Or that due to the ever-present preservation needs of our collections, only 2% are on exhibit at any given time? Join us for a behind-the-scenes program showcasing part of our Whirly Girl Collections.

RSVP is required with the $10 entrance fee going toward the continued mission of IWASM. RSVP no later than Monday, May 9.

Interested in joining? Unsure of your membership status? Need to renew? Call 216-623-1111 today!

Visit https://bit.ly/3ZIU7ZY or call IWASM by May 8 to RSVP.

04/24/2023

In order to safely guide planes through taxi, takeoff, flight, and landing, the Federal Aviation Administration employs more than 14,000 Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) across the country. ATCs communicate with pilots and share information about weather, inbound and outgoing planes, and any ground conditions at the airport. They help monitor air traffic to know which areas have higher numbers of aircraft traffic, redirecting pilots to less congested areas when necessary.

Image: Air Traffic Controller Sarah Keesler (standing, far right) talks to a group of students at IWASM’s Wings of Women STEM Conference in 2022. Photo Credit: IWASM.

04/21/2023

To round out National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating volunteer K.G.! She has been volunteering with IWASM since 2022. K.G. first helped out at IWASM’s booth at the Cleveland National Air Show, and has since become passionate about women in aviation and space. She loves getting to know new people and is excited to work with school groups and summer camps.

Image: KG helps out in the IWASM offices

04/19/2023

Another of our fabulous volunteers is Kate! Kate has been volunteering with IWASM since 2023. Kate loves promoting IWASM events and is thrilled to meet new community members. She is passionate about telling the stories of women in aviation and space and their achievements, and sharing her excitement with others!

04/18/2023

Allie first became involved with IWASM during her summer 2022 internship. Since then, she’s returned to continue volunteering and sharing IWASM’s mission to preserve, educate, and inspire our communities about women in all areas in aviation and space. Allie has volunteered in the office and with our collections inventory, even helping catalog items stored offsite.

Image: Allie helps to catalog IWASM files.

04/17/2023

This week is National Volunteer Week, and IWASM is celebrating our out-of-this-world volunteers!

Marcy has been volunteering with IWASM since 1998. She currently serves as Board Vice President, Board Secretary, and Space Advisor to the museum. Marcy’s favorite part of volunteering with IWASM is “connecting with children and adults and sharing the trailblazing stories of women in air and space that we promote at the museum.”

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and resources to meet the critical needs of our communities. Their stories serve to inspire others to take action, to realize their power to make a difference, and be a force that transforms the world. Share your stories!

Image: Marcy (right) updates our Space Wall binder with the help of summer intern Hannah.

04/17/2023

Lots of activity happening at the museum the next two weeks! As a result, we will be TEMPORARILY closed to the public from:
April 17-May 4, 2023.

We apologize for any inconvenience. During this time, we are relocating half of the exhibit structures to accommodate new activity within the airport. This requires the museum to de-install the exhibits to ensure the safety of the artifacts and exceptional experiences for YOU, our community!

Any previously arranged programs will occur as scheduled. We look forward to welcoming you back on May 4th.

Thank you for your patience and understanding! For questions, please contact 216-623-1111 or emailing [email protected].

04/16/2023

Today marks 111 years since Harriet Quimby’s historic crossing of the English Channel. On April 16, 1912, Quimby flew her 1910 Bleriot X1 glider plane across the Channel solo, making her the first woman to do so. Originally a photojournalist, Quimby became the first American woman to earn her pilot’s license on August 1, 1911. She continued to write for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly while flying in air shows across the country. Her career was cut short 11 months later when she perished in a crash on July 1, 1912.

Image: An article commemorating Harriet Quimby crossing the English Channel published in Scientific American magazine Vol 106, No. 22, June 1, 1912. IWASM 2010.49.M2.

04/14/2023

Piloting includes more than jet aircraft or passenger planes. In 1951, Pennsylvanian Connie Wolf became the first woman and first American to pilot a balloon over the Swiss Alps. On this historic flight and many others throughout her career, Wolf used this instrument kit to monitor her altitude, vertical speed, and flight path.

Wolf served on the Women’s Advisory Committee on Aviation for the Federal Aviation Administration, was a founding member of the Balloon Club of America, and in 1987, she flew a balloon shaped like the Liberty Bell over Philadelphia in celebration of the U.S. Constitution’s 200th anniversary.

Images 1-3: Connie Wolf’s balloon instrument kit. IWASM 1990.34.26.

Image 4: Constance is in a balloon wearing a helmet with a cross emblem. The balloon burners are ignited and the ground crew is studying the balloon which is ready to ascend. IWASM Photo 322.

04/12/2023

This , we’re taking a look at the world of aviation outside of piloting. While airplane pilots are the most visible part of aviation, there are so many more opportunities in flight.

While Jerrie Cobb is most well-known for her participation in the Woman in Space testing program and her mission trips to South America, she was more than just a pilot. As a solo pilot, Cobb needed to know how to handle mechanical difficulties with her plane. She learned the basics of airplane mechanics, and carried this toolbox with her on every flight in her plane “La Pajarita.” Cobb used these tools to perform basic maintenance on her planes during her decades-long career.

Image: Jerrie Cobb’s tool box with tools inside, IWASM 2021.8.1

04/11/2023

IMPORTANT UPDATE!! To accommodate the Cavaliers' Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs, we've rescheduled Trivia to THURSDAY, APRIL 20! Same time, same location.

Join the International Women’s Air & Space Museum for trivia night at Southern Tier Brewing (STC). Questions will cover three of our favorite things: SPACE, MUSEUMS, and CLEVELAND!

Trivia is raising money for IWASM's educational programs fund! Your participation and support keeps programming costs low for our k-12 students.

We will have prizes between rounds with a grand finale team/individual prize: a $100 Amazon gift card, 1 one year membership to the museum, and a special something from our hosts, Southern Tier Brewing Cleveland. Total value of over $200!

Registration cost:
Early Bird (deadline 4/14): $17/person
General Admission: $20/person
Grab some friends, form a team, or compete on your own. It's up to you! Come early and enjoy the amazing food at Southern Tier and grab a beverage or two! Make sure to bring some extra cash for lightning round raffles, contests, and more!

Grab your tickets by clicking: https://bit.ly/3YatAEe

04/06/2023

Soar into April with IWASM! Click the link to learn about our 2nd Annual Trivia Night, news from space, our membership perks and more!
🔗https://conta.cc/3KBY7Hq

Soar into April with these updates from the museum. IWASM Monthly eNews April 2023 Edition Upcoming Events EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDING TUESDAY 4/11! In-Person WHEN? Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Doors O

04/03/2023

Fly ‘em to the Moon!

NASA has named the crew of the II mission. These explorers represent the best of humanity, daring to forge new frontiers in space on behalf of humanity.

Reid Wiseman, Commander
Victor Glover, Pilot
Christina Hammock Koch, Mission Specialist
Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist

Artemis II will fly the crew of four to the Moon and back to Earth!

Together, we are going!

03/30/2023

Today, more women than ever before are pursuing new avenues in aerospace and spaceflight. The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently announced the addition of two women to their newest class of astronauts: Sophie Adenot and Rosemary Coogan.

Adenot has 3,000 hours as a helicopter test pilot in the French Air Force. She earned a master’s degree in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has worked for aerospace manufacturer Airbus on helicopter cockpit design.

Coogan earned her Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Sussex Astronomy Center. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute in Germany and worked at the French Space Agency before her selection by ESA.

For the first time, ESA has also named a class of reserve astronauts, who will step up should Adenot or Coogan be unable to fly. The six women in the reserve pool are UK chemist Meganne Christian, Italian flight controller Anthea Comellini, Spanish biomedical scientist Sara Garcia Alonso, Austrian space physiologist Carmen Possnig, German medical expert manager Amelie Schoenenwald, and German fighter pilot Nicola Winter.

Image 1: Sophie Adenot. ESA.
Image 2: Rosemary Coogan. ESA.

03/28/2023

In 1925, Cleveland Municipal Airport - later to become Hopkins International - opened its doors in Cleveland, OH. As the first airport with an air control tower and the first to be built on two levels to separate arrivals and departures, it was known as the first modern airport. Four years later, the National Air Races were held in Cleveland for the first time due to Hopkins’ ability to accommodate large numbers of spectators, participants, and aircraft.

The National Air Races drew aviation enthusiasts from around the world to witness fast, closed-course races. These races included the Thompson Trophy Race, the Halle Trophy Race, and the 1929 Women’s Air Derby which featured Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, and Clevelander Blanche Noyes. The 1929 Derby was the first all-female air race, and was the precursor to the PowderPuff Derby.

The races took a brief hiatus during World War II and restarted again by 1946. However, a tragedy during the 1949 races caused the end of the races in Cleveland. Pilot Bill Odom crashed “The Beguine” into a local home, killing a young mother and child. The city decided to prohibit air racing in Cleveland airspace, as the postwar suburban sprawl meant there were more houses, buildings, and residential areas at risk should a pilot crash.

This ticket to the 1939 races, part of the IWASM collection, admitted one person to the airport throughout the weekend of September 2-4, 1939.

Images: 1939 National Air Race admission ticket. IWASM 2020.12.7

03/27/2023

Women’s History Month is almost at an end, but our mission continues 24/7! Be a Champion of Women’s History year-round by becoming a museum member!

IWASM is a 501c3 nonprofit funded by members, donations, and grants…we receive no public funding from the city or state. In order to continue our mission to PRESERVE, EDUCATE, and INSPIRE we offer a variety of streamlined membership levels to choose from. We now offer a discounted 2-yearmembership option!

By being an IWASM member, access member-exclusive benefits including:
🚀Receipt of the IWASM Quarterly Newsletter
✈Invitations and discounts to special events
🚀10% discount in the gift shop (*Discount code provided in your membership packet!)
✈Pre-sale tickets on programs and events, such as Corks on the Concourse
🚀Member-exclusive swag - not available anywhere else!
✈Participation in Member-only events…we have one coming up in May!
🚀Discounted research services and assistance

Join now to unlock the benefits and to ensure we continue our mission for years to come. Visit the website to learn more and join/renew NOW! 🔗https://iwasm.org/wp-blog/support/join-us-2/

03/24/2023

Thank you to the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets - Cleveland Division and Civil Air Patrol Cuyahoga County Cadet Squadron for joining us last night for a special meet and greet with AMVETS National Headquarters California Commander Sandra Durbin. Thank you for your amazing questions!

There’s still time to register for tonight’s program made possible thanks to Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

In-person tickets are sold out, but you can still join live via Zoom. Visit https://bit.ly/40yXmEc before 6:00 p.m. EDT to sign up!

03/23/2023

Tune in to Fox 8 News this morning to hear about tomorrow’s speaker, AMVETS National Headquarters California Commander Sandra Durbin. Registration is still open until NOON TODAY (3/23) for tomorrow’s event. Head over to the link to snag your seats before they’re gone! 🔗 https://bit.ly/3K1H69e