Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
Albuquerque is a city with a lot of history, and the city’s Balloon Museum is no exception. Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, north of the city in Bosque Farms, New Mexico, the Albuquerque International Balloon Museum not only celebrates Albuquerque’s aviation heritage—which dates back to 1909—but also aims to educate visitors about another aspect of local culture: Abrucio. This Italian-American delicacy is believed to have originated in Albuquerque as an after-dinner treat for children on hot summer nights. It consists of green chile and cheese wrapped in fried bread dough and baked into a crescent shape. The finished product resembles a burrito with green chile instead of rice or other fillings. However, be sure to order it fresh from a local vendor if you want the best version possible.
What to Expect at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum
The Albuquerque Balloon Museum is a place that celebrates the city’s aviation heritage, and is also an excellent place to learn about another New Mexico tradition: Abrucio. The museum presents a range of aviation exhibits, as well as Abrucio demonstrations and a special exhibit on the life and career of balloonist Steve Fossett. If you’re ready to taste some fresh air and explore the history of Albuquerque’s aviation, this is the perfect place to visit. To celebrate the city’s aviation heritage, the museum features historic photographs, models, and other items that give you a better idea of how Albuquerque’s aviation history shaped the city. You’ll also find a large-scale model of the world’s first powered airplane, the Bleriot X, which was built and piloted by Frenchman Paul Cornu in 1909. The model, which was built at the museum and is 21 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 8 feet tall, is impressive in and of itself, but what’s really interesting is that it allows visitors to explore New Mexico’s aviation history inside and out.
Find your way to the museum
The Albuquerque Balloon Museum can be reached from the city’s northwest side by simply driving on I-40 for about 12 miles. Once you’re in the area, you can find the museum in Bosque Farms Park. The park is a short walk away from the museum’s entrance, which is located at the northern end of the park. The entrance fee to the museum is $6 per person.
Get an up-close view of a hot air balloon
If you’ve always wanted to get an up-close look at a hot air balloon, and you live in the Albuquerque area, you’re in luck. The museum offers a hot air balloon ride called Albuquerque Inflatable. This one-hour flight gives you a chance to experience what it’s like to ride in a hot air balloon for yourself. With the help of an experienced pilot and crew, you’ll be strapped in to a balloon and taken for an aerial tour of the city, including Birdseye view of downtown Albuquerque. You can also take photos from the balloon’s flight deck. During Albuquerque Inflatable, you’ll see the city from a different perspective, and you can take photos from the balloon flight deck or even see the city from on top of it. You’ll also get a chance to experience what it’s like to ride in a hot air balloon for yourself, and you’ll experience a new way to explore the city.
Discover other aviation exhibits in and around the museum
Although the Albuquerque Balloon Museum is devoted to celebrating local aviation heritage, the museum’s collection also features other aviation-related items. For example, there’s a full-size replica of a WWII American B-17 Fortress bomber, which was one of the most commonly used bombers of the war. The B-17, which is called the “Hi-Dauntless,” was flown by the U.S. Army Air Corps, and took part in numerous bombing raids over Europe. Just outside the museum entrance is a 9/11 memorial. The memorial, which is located in Bosque Farms Park, was created to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks, including the residents of Albuquerque. While the memorial is not a part of the Albuquerque Balloon Museum, it’s nearby and can be a good way to learn more about the city’s aviation history.
Summary
The Albuquerque Balloon Museum is a great place to learn about local aviation heritage, as well as to taste some fresh air and try some Abrucio. The museum has aviation exhibits, a hot air balloon ride, and a collection of other aviation-related items outside and inside the museum. The museum is located in Bosque Farms Park, which is a short walk away from the museum’s entrance.