Wings Over Salina takes off with first donation
The Wings
Over Salina Air Museum received its first monetary donation earlier
this month. The donation was sent anonymously and was added to
the provisional museum fund, which will go toward building the
structure. Artifact donations have also been coming in more
frequently as more people hear about the upcoming museum.
But more funds and artifacts
are needed to preserve the aviation history that has been made in the
Salina Area.
People
wishing to donate funds to the museum online can do so, on the Greater
Salina Community Foundation website by selecting "Donate Online
Now" then selecting the "Donate Now through Network for
Good" button. In the "Designation" section type in
Wings Over Salina Air Museum and if you'd like to donate to the
provisional or endowment fund. Others wishing to send a check can
send it to PO Box 2876, Salina, KS 67402-2876. For stock gifts
call the Foundation at 785.823.1800 for
assistance.
The
Authority started a provisional fund with $500 to raise money for
planning and construction. Money donated to that fund will go to
building the museum structure and monuments to commemorate items of
significance in local aviation. An endowment fund to support
operations has been seeded by the Airport Authority with $10,000.
Currently,
the south lobby of the M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal Building will play
host to many of the items that will find a permanent home in the Wings
Over Salina Air Museum. As items come in, more are being
displayed for visitors to enjoy.
Items
sought after for the museum include Smoky Hill Army Airfield and
Schilling Air Force Base related materials. The military had a
huge presence in Salina in the 1940s through the 1960s, and a near
devastating effect on the town when the base closed. The men and
women who called Salina home during the building blocks of its history
have since scattered to all edges of the country. Those historic
items are proving to be the most difficult to find.
Plans
are in works to gather oral histories and memorabilia from the men and
women who spent time on any of the bases in the Salina area.
Along
with a significant military aviation history, Salina is the boyhood
home of former NASA astronaut Steven Hawley. The town made
aviation history twice in the mid 2000s. In 2005, Steve Fossett
flew the first solo nonstop airplane flight around the world, starting
and ending in Salina. Then in 2006, he set the absolute distance
over a closed circuit record, landing in Salina. Major aviation
manufacturers have employed thousands of local residents since the late
60s. Unmanned aerial systems being developed at K-State at Salina
are quickly changing the course of history and the future of
aviation.
Items
related to these nonmilitary related pieces of history are also being
highly sought after by the Airport Authority. Photos, uniforms,
signs, paperwork and newspapers are just a few of the items that are
planned to be housed in the museum.
Aside
from donations, the Smoky Hill Museum is aiding the Salina Airport
Authority is setting up shop for this monumental undertaking, by
providing information in regards to restoration, administration,
display and much more.
For
donation questions call the Greater Salina Community Foundation at
785.823.1800. Those who wish to donate historical items or have
their names added to the list to be contacted for oral histories should
call Melissa at the Airport at 785.827.3914.
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