By Heather Collins
Conner Prairie’s 1859 Balloon Voyage exhibit will open March 28. According to Brian Mancuso, director of exhibits, the 1859 Balloon Voyage exhibit celebrates what’s widely recognized as the first airmail delivery. In 1859, balloonist John Wise in Lafayette, Ind. unsuccessfully attempted the first airmail delivery. According to Mancuso, nearly 15,000 people attended the lift-off of the hot air balloon.
The 1859 Balloon Voyage exhibit allows participants to explore the 1859 voyage, discover the rigors of airmail by balloon and get a closer look at all the work required to lift a balloon into the sky.
Dr. Tom Crouch, American aeronautics historian and National Air and Space Museum curator, assisted Conner Prairie in the development of the new Create-Connect augmented experience for the 1859 Balloon Voyage exhibit.
The exhibit includes a photo opportunity and several interactive and sensory experiences, including a scale that measures a person by how many party balloons it would take to lift them off of the ground. According to Mancuso, it would take roughly 3,000 party balloons to lift the average person off of the ground.
The exhibit also includes a ride in Conner Prairie’s authentic hot air balloon, which lifts riders 350 feet into the air.
“It’s like the cherry on top. There’s nothing like feeling that balloon tug you up off the ground and tug you skyward,” Mancuso said.
According to Mancuso, on a clear day, the downtown Indianapolis skyline is viewable.
Special tickets are required to ride the 1859 Balloon Voyage. In additional to general admission, ticket prices for 1859 Balloon Voyages are $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Symphony on the Prairie Balloon Voyages are $17 per member and $20 per non-member.
To pre-register for a group balloon voyage or a private balloon flight, contact Conner Prairie’s guest services at 317-776-6000. For more, visit connerprairie.org.
