Children Take Center Stage In Celebration Of Multi-Faceted Museum

The Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Experience is a Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum that celebrated its 45th Anniversary with what else? A paper airplane competition!

The Air Zoo featured a competition for children aged 10 and older to design, fold, and launch their own imaginative paper airplanes. The celebration also offered other activities such as a scavenger hunt, indoor amusement park rides and other kids’ activities, cake, and of course a 45% discount on admission.

The Air Zoo was founded in 1977 but its story goes back to 1959 when Suzanne Delano-Parish and Pete Parish began collecting aircraft. Suzanne was a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) and Pete was a World War II pilot and former U.S. Marine. Pete first purchased a half interest in a single-engine 35C Bonanza, and before too long the couple purchased a Stearman biplane. Next came an AT-6, followed by a Grumman Wildcat.

The Parishes had always wanted to share their enthusiasm for World War II airplanes, so then they opened the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum when a friend offered a Grumman Bearcat on the condition they opened a museum. It became popularly known as the Air Zoo because of the animal names for the aircraft in their original collection which included a Wildcat, Bearcat, Hellcat, and Flying Tiger.

One museum representative felt nostalgic during the celebration: Michael P. Martin, Director of Experience Fulfillment said, "I’m watching grandma or grandpa start to just connect with those little kids, and telling a story like 'I remember when I was a kid' and that maybe this is an airplane or an exhibit that pulls that out, but the connections that the people make here is just so special and incredible."

FMI:  www.airzoo.org/