Jumpsuits & Teleporters

Homespun Museums

Too often do we take for granted the organization of a museum’s collection. When the success of an organization is significantly due to preservation of a legacy and storage is not an option, displays are filled to the brim with donations of personal memorabilia, family heirlooms, and rare artifacts—each bearing a story. This is mostly seen in the case of small nonprofit organizations or what I call homespun museums. I’ve visited a few of these nonprofits, though mostly related to aviation or space exploration. After talking with volunteers and taking my time to explore the collection, I noticed that financial support comes from retired aviators and family members entrusting their donations. The small size of the museum lends the illusion of a mom-and-pop establishment, which is more an asset than a limitation. (This can also be experienced in small artist-run alternative spaces.) Especially because the volunteers are eager to narrate their own personal anecdote for their favorite exhibit.

Below are a few images of the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville, Florida, which houses and restores vintage aircrafts and is home to the TICO Belle. I visited the Warbird Museum last September where I was given an exclusive tour of the museum and its restoration hangar. It is a rare occasion to be offered a museum tour by a passionate volunteer. Jason Davis, a helicopter instructor, showed me around for over an hour answering every question I threw at him. More pictures can be seen here.

Another recommendation for a homespun museum is the U.S. Space Walk of Fame also in Titusville. Placing emphasis on the American Space Worker, this museum was founded by NASA employees who dedicated their lives to space exploration. Though there are only a few rooms to peruse, the collection is impressive because the items donated include volunteers’ own personal effects from spacesuits, helmets, and other memorabilia to models and launch consoles. Spacesuits and other uniforms are surprisingly not encased in glass displays (excluding the glove pictured below), which allows a closer examination than any display at the Kennedy Space Center.