Thursday evening I was invited to the Stafford Air & Space Museum for a “Stories at the Stafford” event. It was an event I wish every Weatherford citizen could attend. They say one of the best marketing ideas a local museum can do is the first educate their own citizens about the museum and let them, in turn, sell the museum to their friends, families and guests.
Museum director Max Airy began a short talk relevant to the current invasion of Ukraine by Russia and discussed some direct connections to the military situation and the museum. Airy has an incredible knowledge of General Thomas P. Stafford’s early relationship with the Soviet Union resulting from the joint venture of the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.
Stafford has been credited for many facets of improving relations between the U.S. and Russia. In fact, Stafford and his wife adopted two sons from Russia. The personal archives of that time in history along with Stafford’s full archival collection will be officially opened on the SWOSU campus March 11.
Highlights of the museum tour for me revolved around the incredible artifacts, many of which are exclusive to this Smithsonian-Affiliated museum. The museum tracks the history of early flight where small pieces of the wing fabric and wood from the propeller of the actual Wright Flyer are creatively displayed along with the story of how it came to the museum. Astronaut Neil Armstrong was given the pieces and carried them in the pocket of his space suit as he became the first person to step on the moon.
The list of other artifacts is an impressive collection for any museum. From heat shields, to astronaut’s personal belongings like their teddy bears, letter jackets, space suits and much more help to make the space program a reality for those touring the museum. Our group received a sneak preview of the newest gallery
Our group received a sneak preview of the newest gallery “Powering the Race to the Moon”. Understanding the power it takes to send a rocket into space comes alive in this interactive gallery which resembles a movie set.
Artifacts used in producing many space-related movies are also on display including shoes and spacesuits worn by famous actors.
Nearing completion is the new gallery which will be home to a Stealth bomber that is being prepared for the museum. The story of Stafford’s connection to the highly classified Stealth is fascinating and it will be one of very few repurposed for public view.
I asked the marketing director of the museum if they were recording Airy’s incredible narrative on the tour and she assured me they were along with numerous recordings of Stafford and his first-hand experiences while setting the record, still held, for the fasted speed ever achieved by a human being.