The Empire State Aerosciences Museum Adds a Little Space
Saturday, May 2. 2009
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Schenectady county celebrated its grand re-opening today with a special day-long ceremony. Festivities included free admission to the museum, featured guests (including Melissa Rice of NASA, who is currently working on the Mars over Project), an official ribbon cutting ceremony, and interactive aviation exhibits. Yes, interactive: unlike many museums, ESAM encourages patrons to truly experience their exhibits with moving displays (controlled by the visitor), replica pieces that can be sat in, moved, etc., and a static aircraft display of classic fighters and bombers that let you walk right up to the aircraft.
The highlight of the show was the all-new Lunar Rover exhibit, dedicated to ESAM founder Carl Battaglia. Primarily built by local model builders who volunteered their time and efforts, the exhibit included scale models, videos, interactive and static displays, and a miniature lunar surface complete with an R/C Lunar Rover. Kudos especially to Jeff and Bob for their hard work getting the room to look as great as it did.
If you missed today's ceremony, the ESAM is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, and on Sundays from noon to 4pm, with admission costing $8 for adults, $6 for seniors & military personnel, and $5 for children ages 6-16.
About ESAM: The Museum is located on the Schenectady County Airport, one of the earliest consolidated airports in the country, where Lindbergh landed in 1927. During the 1930’s it was an aircraft manufacturing site and became a military training area and an AAF base during World War II. Aircraft research and development conducted here was so important that the first jet airmail started from this site in 1946. With the establishment of the General Electric Flight Test Facility and the Malta Rocket Test Station toward the end of WWII, it became known as “The Little Peenemunde of the US” because of its rocket and jet research & development. The museum site and buildings are part of this heritage.
The highlight of the show was the all-new Lunar Rover exhibit, dedicated to ESAM founder Carl Battaglia. Primarily built by local model builders who volunteered their time and efforts, the exhibit included scale models, videos, interactive and static displays, and a miniature lunar surface complete with an R/C Lunar Rover. Kudos especially to Jeff and Bob for their hard work getting the room to look as great as it did.
If you missed today's ceremony, the ESAM is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, and on Sundays from noon to 4pm, with admission costing $8 for adults, $6 for seniors & military personnel, and $5 for children ages 6-16.
About ESAM: The Museum is located on the Schenectady County Airport, one of the earliest consolidated airports in the country, where Lindbergh landed in 1927. During the 1930’s it was an aircraft manufacturing site and became a military training area and an AAF base during World War II. Aircraft research and development conducted here was so important that the first jet airmail started from this site in 1946. With the establishment of the General Electric Flight Test Facility and the Malta Rocket Test Station toward the end of WWII, it became known as “The Little Peenemunde of the US” because of its rocket and jet research & development. The museum site and buildings are part of this heritage.
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