By Jeremy Smith
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas is a state full of rich history. While cowboys, agriculture and oil dominate the state’s storied past, 2010 will mark the centennial celebration of another part of Texas history.
Since Frenchman Louis Paulhan’s first flight in Texas on February 18, 1910, the Lone Star State has been on the leading edge of aviation. To celebrate the state’s centennial of flight, The Bob Bullock Texas State History … Museum, starting in September 2010, will tell the story of Texas aviation – past, present and future.
”Texas truly does have a rich history in aviation,” states interim museum director Laura Hall. ‘We are thrilled to be celebrating that history at the museum next year.”
The history of aviation in Texas is the story of industry innovation, record-setting achievements, gravity-defying feats and the soaring human spirit. In March 1910, one month after Paulhan’s flight, the first U.S. military aircraft flew from Fort Sam Houston, beginning Texas’ long tradition of military aviation. The first Texan to fly in the state was LL. Walker Jr. in Houston, who built and flew his own plane in the summer/fall of 1910, exemplifying the spirit that has driven the Texas aviation industry ever since.
The museum looks to capture that spirit with its 7,000-sq. -ft. special exhibition highlighting the dynamic achievements of Texas aviators, designers, manufacturers and services. The exhibit is scheduled to run from September 12, 2010, to January 9, 2011.
Dr. Barbara Ganson, who is currently an associate professor of history at Florida Atlantic University, where she teaches Aviation History and Latin American History, will be the guest curator for the exhibit. Exhibit features include: artifacts, hands-on activities, interactive displays, faces and places that have made Texas a dominant force in the aviation industry, public programs to spark the spirit of flight in visitors of all ages and resources to encourage youth who are the future of aviation.
“With multimedia interactivity, artifacts, original research and hands-on experiences for every member of the family, this exhibition will serve as the next great chapter in the rich story of Texas aviation,” says Hall. “Come fly with us.”
