In 1911 Harriet Quimby became the first American woman to earn a pilot’s license. On Saturday, March 10, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, will celebrate her achievements at the museum’s seventh annual free family day. The event is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Parking is available in the Burke Lakefront Airport terminal municipal parking lot. Landing fees at the airport (BKL) are waived for visitors to the museum that day. Support for this year’s Family Day is provided by Dollar Bank, Dominion, and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
The museum will be celebrating Women’s History Month throughout the day and will give visitors the opportunity to learn about Harriet Quimby’s life and accomplishments through a biographical timeline of hands-on activities, including a “Pilot’s License” Photo Booth and a “Design Your Own Fashion” station. Free activities will also be provided by several area organizations, including the Houde School of Acting and Olmsted Performing Arts who will be teaching acting lessons, Western Reserve Historical Society, NASA, and a Harriet Quimby re-enactor. Families and youth groups are encouraged to attend this free special event, museum officials said.
The public celebration of women’s history in this country began in 1978 as “Women’s History Week” in Sonoma County, California. The week, including March 8, International Women’s Day, was selected. In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women’s History Month.
The International Women’s Air & Space Museum is located in the Burke Lakefront Airport terminal building, 1501 N. Marginal Road. Museum admission is free and exhibits are open 8 am – 8 pm daily. The Fay Gillis Wells Research Center and Gift Shop are open 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday. The Joan L. Hrubec Aviation Education Center is open to the public on Saturdays and hosts school groups during the week.
For more information: 216-623-1111 or IWASM.org
People who read this article also read articles on airparks, airshow, airshows, avgas, aviation fuel, aviation news, aircraft owner, avionics, buy a plane, FAA, fly-in, flying, general aviation, learn to fly, pilots, Light-Sport Aircraft, LSA, and Sport Pilot.
