Civil War Balloon to Take Flight with Last-Minute Helium Donation
Excursions on
the Intrepid to Begin July 4 at Genesee Country Village
& Museum
When the
CEO of the Genesse Country Villlage Museum set out last year to
build and fly the world's first replica of a Civil War manned balloon – the Intrepid – little did he know his dream
could collapse from a nationwide helium shortage. But he also didn't bargain
that one of the country's most iconic retailers would step forward to deliver a
miracle at the last minute, literally raising the project off the ground.
Thanks to the generous support of
Macy's – a brand synonymous with the
giant helium-filled balloons that grace Manhattan's skies every Thanksgiving
morning – the Intrepid will begin
flying this July 4 outside of Rochester, N.Y. Weather permitting, the balloon
will take guests 300 feet (32 stories) into the sky, simulating what some of
the world’s first military pilots (a.k.a. aeronauts) experienced 150 years ago.
"We were looking for a
miracle. The Museum was seemingly out of options to secure helium after having
placed innumerable calls to dealers, government officials and even
decommissioned research laboratories across the U.S.," said Peter Arnold,
GCV&M's CEO and president. "Then we heard from Macy's, which was able
to donate the 50,000 cubic feet we needed. We’re simply ecstatic, as we were
within days of having to suspend our opening. 'The Magic of Macy's' has never
been more real."
First announced this past
February, the Intrepid project has
captured the imagination of families, educators, historians and aviation
enthusiasts across North America. Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and adventure balloonist and Virgin Group Chairman Sir Richard Barnson have both
praised the historic reconstruction. "Supporting education is an
important aspect of our community giving, made even more relevant in this case
since Macy’s was founded during the Civil War era,” said Russell Schutte,
senior vice president / director of stores, Macy’s Midwest. “With our unique connection
to helium ballooning, we had the opportunity to help Genesee Country Village
& Museum fulfill its dream to open this one-of-a-kind, interactive exhibit.
The result will benefit not only the people of Western New York, but visitors
who will travel from across the U.S. and overseas to experience the wonder and
history of flight.”
Conceived by Professor Thaddeus
Lowe, the Union Army Balloon Corps was personally approved by President Abraham
Lincoln in June 1861. Not only was the Intrepid
the predecessor to modern-day military aviation, but it also foreshadowed the
future of military reconnaissance communications. The pilot would send
intelligence information – troop movements, artillery compensation
instructions, and more – to soldiers on the ground via telegraph. Like the original seven gas
balloons used by the Union Army during the Civil War, the Intrepid is tethered to land for optimal convenience and safety. Visitors
– up to four at a time – will have the opportunity to take 15-minute flights
for a nominal cost in addition to their museum entry fee.
A team of prominent advisors is
assisting with the project, including Tom D. Crouch, Ph.D., senior curator of
Aeronautics for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; Jim Green, director, Planetary
Science Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and Rob
Shenk, director, Internet Strategy & Development, Civil War Trust.
For more information, visit www.gcv.org or follow the museum on Twitter at @GCVMuseum.
About Genesee Country Village &
Museum
Genesee
Country Village & Museum helps visitors understand the lives and times of
19th-century America through interactive programs, events and exhibits. It is the
largest and most comprehensive living history museum in New York State and
maintains the third largest collection of historic buildings in the United
States. The 700-acre complex consists of 68 historic structures furnished with
15,000 artifacts to provide an authentic 19th-century environment in which
visitors can interact with knowledgeable, third-person historic interpreters in
period-appropriate dress. For more information, please visit www.gcv.org
Media Contacts: Mike
McDougall, McDougall Travers Collins for Genesee Country Village & Museum mmcdougall@mcdougalltc.com or
585-789-162 and Andrea
Schwartz, Macy’s, Inc. andrea.schwartz@macys.com or
312-399-8934
No comments:
Post a Comment