The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) will launch its first virtual exhibit June 30, 2021, with a special program.
The exhibit, “Defying the Odds: Exploring the Impact of Women and Aviation in the First Half of the 20th Century,” shines a light on lesser known pioneers and trailblazing women, according to officials with the museum, which is located inside the Burke Lakefront Airport (KBKL) terminal building in Cleveland, Ohio. The museum reopened in March 2021 after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“As the only museum of its kind preserving the stories of women in all areas of aviation and aerospace, the last year has enabled us to reimagine how we engage our communities,” says IWASM Executive Director Sara Fisher. “Since we’ve added virtual experiences to our programming line-up, we are better equipped to bring history to life. Even with our reopening, we are building new avenues to bring the history of women in all areas of aviation directly to our communities. What better way to compliment and build off of our physical exhibits than through the addition of a virtual exhibit?”
The museum’s collection includes more than 5,000 biographies and more than 7,500 items from women from around the world as part of its mission. Current physical exhibits at the museum include those showcasing Katharine Wright, the 20th Anniversary of the International Space Station, Harriet Quimby, and more.
While many may recognize the names of Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, and Jacqueline Cochran, this exhibit introduces audiences to other notable figures. Among those included are Lotfia El Nadi, Katherine Sui Fun Cheung, and Thérèse Peltier.
“IWASM is fortunate to have had the assistance of two Ohio History Service Corps AmeriCorps members, Marissa Hamm and Ava Schmidt, with this project. They have worked to help us build the foundation to create future virtually accessible exhibits,” Fisher said. “Marissa and Ava have spent countless hours researching this project to place these women within the larger historical context and decades in which they lived. This helps to frame why their experiences are so important to understanding their impact on the world of aviation. With their assistance, they’ve helped us better understand how we can share the stories from our collections.”
The exhibit launch will be held on June 30 at 7 p.m. EDT via Zoom. Registration is required and admission is a minimum donation of $5. Registrants are encouraged to give more to enable the museum to further its mission to preserve, educate, and inspire through continued accessible programming, officials noted. For more information, go to IWASM.org or call 216-623-1111.