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Editor鈥檚 note: The last Sunday of each month, Journal Arts Editor Adrian Gomez tells the stories behind some of the hidden gems you can see across the state in 鈥淕imme Five.鈥�

Upon entering the Anderson Abruzzo sa国际传媒官网网页入口 International Balloon Museum in Balloon Fiesta Park, the items on display will have you looking up to the sky.

There are pieces of hot air balloon history right up close and personal.

The space, which was opened in 2005, is the world鈥檚 premier balloon museum facility dedicated to the art, culture, science, history, sport and spectacle of ballooning.

It features one of the world鈥檚 finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia 鈥� a perfect fit as sa国际传媒官网网页入口 is known for ballooning.

Lynne Newton is the exhibitions curator at the Balloon Museum and gets to work hands-on with many items 鈥� over 30,000 to be exact.

Since the first balloon flight in 1783, hot air and gas balloons have been used for adventure, scientific experiments, the arts, warfare, espionage and space exploration.

Newton and the staff at the museum work to create interactive exhibits that tell the long history of ballooning.

Not to mention that there are several N.M. connections to the ballooning world. The museum is named after two sa国际传媒官网网页入口 pilots who were pioneers in long-distance helium balloon flight 鈥� Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson 鈥� who were part of the crews who first successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon in 1978 and the Pacific Ocean in 1981.

Visiting once, guests wouldn鈥檛 be able to see the thousands of museum pieces.

Newton broke it down to five items to see, just in time to whet the appetite before the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 International Balloon Fiesta begins on Oct. 7.

1. Scoreboard from the First World Hot Air Balloon Championship

Newton says it is a handwritten scoreboard from the First World Hot Air Balloon Championship, which was held in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 in conjunction with the second Balloon Fiesta in 1973.

鈥淭he Balloon Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the championship with new displays in the 鈥楥anopy of Color: Celebrating sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 Balloon Fiesta鈥� exhibit,鈥� Newton says. 鈥淭he scoreboard is on loan from the Sid Cutter estate.鈥�

Look closely at the scoreboard and the name A. Sandel is on the list. Newton says Sandel is from the Netherlands and is the only woman pilot on the list.

2. Service ware from the Hindenburg and the Graf Zeppelin

Newton says the Graf Zeppelin was the first airship to make an around the world flight in 1929. The Hindenburg flew across the Atlantic numerous times in 1936.

鈥淧assengers flew with modern comforts and luxury on these airships, including dining on fine porcelain,鈥� she says.

Flying high: Anderson Abruzzo sa国际传媒官网网页入口 International Balloon Museum is a treasure trove of industry history

3. Zeppelin shaped cocktail shaker

Newton says in the early 20th century, people the world over became enamored with airships and the promise of long-distance travel by air.

鈥淎irships became a part of pop culture and were seen everywhere from children鈥檚 toys to everyday items around the house,鈥� she says. 鈥淒ating from the 1920s, this is a cocktail shaker in the shape of an airship. The gondola holds a set of spoons in place.鈥�

4. Ed Yost Trail

Ed Yost is known as the 鈥淔ather of the modern hot air balloon,鈥� Newton explains.

鈥淎s an engineer and balloon builder, Yost鈥檚 legacy includes building the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic in 1963, built Ben and Maxie鈥檚 famous Double Eagle II gas balloon trans-Atlantic flight in 1978, and was a key to bringing the Gordon Bennett gas balloon race back after World War II,鈥� she says.

The Balloon Museum is celebrating Yost in a new exhibit, but is also highlighting his contributions and accomplishments throughout existing exhibits 鈥� look for the Ed Yost icon to learn more.

5. Henry Helm Clayton lantern slides

Newton says Henry Helm Clayton was a gas balloon pilot and meteorologist who competed in the 1907 Gordon Bennett race that launched from St. Louis.

鈥淗e took the beautiful photographs seen here as lantern slides,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e also traveled the country giving lectures about wind and ballooning. His lecture notes and balloon license are also in this case.鈥�