Skyboys of the Wrangell – St. Elias Range

Skyboys of the Wrangell – St. Elias Range

Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/08/2015 - 09/06/2015
All Day

Location
The Valdez Museum on Egan

Categories

Price
Regular Admission


The Valdez Museum is pleased to announce its summer exhibition, “Skyboys of the Wrangell-St. Elias Range”, on display at the museum May 8th through September 6th. The exhibition is a traveling display produced by the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, and will be augmented by content unique to the Valdez region, from the Valdez Museum’s own collection.The rugged Wrangell range was a proving ground for these pilots known for their fearlessness and their pioneering of Alaskan aviation techniques. The names of these Skyboys are recalled today by even the youngest Alaskans: Harold Gillam, Merritt D. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick, Merle “Mudhole” Smith, and Bob Reeve, “the Glacier Pilot.” Their competitive rivalries brought reliable air service to eastern Alaska, and eventually formed the primary stops along a regularly scheduled flight route called, “The Copper Belt Line.”

Content for the exhibit was authored by Katherine Ringsmuth, PhD., a curator and historian for the Anchorage Museum whose past credits include historical aviation research for the National Parks Service, and contributions to the Valdez Museum’s 2012 aviation exhibit upgrade. An opening reception, free for museum members, will be held at the museum on Tuesday, May 12, 6 PM – 8 PM. Refreshments will be served.

Aviation-themed field trips by Valdez students and teachers to the museum in May are welcome. Contact educator@valdezmuseum.org