The Montgomery Museum of Art & History is proud to announce its upcoming history exhibit, "Above: A History of Montgomery County Aviation," generously sponsored by Wing Aviation. This exhibit explores and celebrates the county’s rich legacy in aviation, featuring historic artifacts and stories highlighting the community’s impact on the skies above us.
Montgomery County has long been at the forefront of aviation and aerospace innovation, from the establishment of the aeronautics curriculum at Virginia Tech in 1929 to the role of the Radford Arsenal in rocket fuel development. The region’s contributions to the field continue into the modern era, with the first U.S. commercial drone delivery by Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, taking place in Christiansburg, VA in 2019.
Historic photographs, uniforms, and World War II aviator gloves provide tangible links to the important local contributions to the war effort during the 1940s. Two modern commercial delivery drones and other artifacts will showcase the culmination of the work, research, and innovation produced by the Virginia Tech Mid Atlantic Aviation Partnership, an FAA-designated UAS test site whose research propelled new, safe drone applications such as those used by Wing.
Complementing this historical exhibit is a special art showcase celebrating ‘Flight,’ featuring works by local artists including Richard Allnut, Susan Hansen, Sue Hossack, Susan Lockwood, Jim Marchman, Wayne McKinney, Susan Moffit, Judy Niehaus, Savannah Penven, and Charlie Whitescarver. This art exhibit provides a variety of perspectives and inspiration on the topic of aviation including aerial photography and landscape art.
The exhibit opening and reception will take place on Thursday, September 26, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Montgomery Museum of Art & History, located at 4 East Main St., Christiansburg, VA 24073. Guests will enjoy free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar during the event. This unique celebration of aviation and flight as seen through art and history will serve as a testament to the region’s talents, innovation, and technological advances.