Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

In 1978, Albuquerque balloonists Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson, along with partner Larry Newman, made history when they completed the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon.

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is the world's premiere facility dedicated to the art, culture, science, history, sport and spectacle of ballooning. It features one of the finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia in the world. It officially opened its doors to the public on October 1, 2005.

The dream of building a museum to celebrate the art and science of ballooning began in the mid-1980s. The Maxie Anderson family felt that creating a museum would be a fitting way to honor the senior Anderson, who died in a balloon accident in Europe in 1983. After Ben Abruzzo’s 1985 death in an airplane accident, the family decided the museum should honor Abruzzo as well.

The Anderson and Abruzzo families spearheaded efforts to advance the museum project throughout the 1990s. The City of Albuquerque embraced the project and financed the construction of the facility through the Quality of Life Tax and bond funds.

Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: (505) 880-0500
www.balloonmuseum.com