Exhibit explores history of lighter-than-air flight in Arizona

A new exhibit tracing the evolution of lighter-than-air flight, from 18th-century hot air balloons to 20th-century military blimps, is now open at the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center in Litchfield Park.

Titled “Lighter Than Air: Balloons, Blimps, and Dirigibles,” the exhibition explores the historical development and uses of lighter-than-air crafts, including their roles in warfare, long-distance races, and civilian transportation. A significant portion of the exhibit highlights the contributions of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio, and its Arizona-based affiliate, Goodyear Aircraft, in advancing airship technology in the United States.

The Heritage Center, located on the edge of the Rancho La Loma Homestead, has become a local hub for historical education and community engagement. Alongside its permanent collection, the center regularly hosts rotating exhibits, lectures, children’s programs, and guided walking tours.

The new exhibit follows the recent closure of “Crossroads of Change,” a nearly year-long photographic installation by local photojournalist Jim Painter. That exhibit documented major regional shifts during the 1980s and 1990s, including the sale of Goodyear farmland and the expansion of Interstate 10.

Visit pwlhc.org for more information or visit the museum in person at  13912 W Camelback Road in Litchfield Park.