About National Balloon Museum
The National Balloon Museum dedicates itself to providing the public with a comprehensive understanding of ballooning and its history through its exhibitions and collections. The museum archives more than 200 years of ballooning, hosts 10,000 visitors a year (with 20 countries in attendance) and operates on more than 2,000 volunteer hours annually.
The museum's facilities were expanded with an addition in 2003 which doubled the floor space of the museum.
Why Indianola, Iowa? The area is known for its prime flying conditions, and many balloonists call Central Iowa home. For many years, Indianola was the home of the Balloon Federation of Americas National Hot Air Balloon Championships, and currently is the home of the National Balloon Classic, a nine-day premier ballooning event that attracts balloonists from all over the country. The Balloon Federation of America (BFA) established the museum in Indianola in 1973. The archives of the museum are the property of the BFA.
The national offices of the Balloon Federation of America are located in the Museum, as is the office of the National Balloon Classic. Both offices are open year round.
We are looking for volunteers for our daily operations at the National Balloon Museum, 1 - 4 pm on Wednesday through Sunday starting on April 6th. Our volunteers assist with various tasks, including running the cash register for the gift shop and admission purchases, welcoming guests, and providing visitors with a brief overview of the museum while answering any questions. If you are interested, please email us at museum@nationalballoonmuseum.com or fill out the volunteer form on our website www.nationalballoonmuseum.com