History Soars Sky High at Freedom of Flight Museum

By Don Lowe

The Freedom of Flight Museum in Joplin, Missouri, has soared to great heights for nearly a decade, while striving to share consequential space milestones of yesterday, today and tomorrow through several fascinating displays and real-life stories.

Freedom of Flight Museum President Darryl Coit explained one key feature is the aerospace timeline that “depicts the worldwide development of aviation and space through the years. It is important for area visitors to realize the Four-State Area had a significant part in that development.

“We show those accomplishments on our timeline: The first airplane made of aluminum, a critical patent that made the helicopter successful, a device that made aircraft carrier landings possible, rocket engines that sent the first man to the moon, a local astronaut and batteries that have left our solar system.

“If we can show our area citizens, and most importantly, our area youth, what we’ve already achieved locally, then we can stimulate their interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.”

Providing kids historical perspective is pivotal to Coit. “I’m saddened when elementary school students tell me they don’t know who Neil Armstrong was, what Apollo was or who the Wright Brothers were.

“Or, when a young girl tells me her father and mother say girls can’t be pilots. By sharing history with these kids, we open a whole new world to them.”

Another component of this museum is recognizing the men and women who served our country. “Our veteran tributes are a way of connecting veterans with their friends and families. Many times, veterans return from service and never discuss their military experiences with anyone.

“We’ve found there are interesting stories they want to relate. What was the country like? What were the people like? Did you have friends? What was your job? What was training like? These are all good stories.

“Our interviews consist of a veteran interview with the interviewee. The interviewer has researched in advance the time, world situations, units, etc., during when the veteran served.

“These interviews are posted on YouTube where they can be viewed by family and friends anywhere in the world. The stories are always good. They’re a source of good information for area youth that may be interested in a military career.”

As for other key museum happenings, Coit said, “Our STEM activities and presentations provide families with an alternative activity on weekends. They’re a vital part of our mission to create an interest in STEM subjects, which in turn creates interest and participation in our museum.”

Specific to the presentations, Coit said, “They’re generally about important aerospace history. They typically center around current or past aerospace events, people and places. The lectures are vital because they help build an interest in our museum.”

There’s lots more to discover, including the Air and Space Technology Center (ASTC), which is the personal exhibit of museum curator Ernie Trumbly and features a unique collection of instruments, controls, weapons systems, missiles and safety systems. Additionally, the museum has obtained a part of Allen Shirley’s space exhibit, which showcases the efforts of the United States’ race to the moon and helps to illustrate the great work a local historian put into the collection that contains original items documented with signatures and other proof of authenticity.

“Aerospace history is a big deal in and of itself,” Coit said. “It has changed the way we live, work, fight wars and travel. It has changed the way we dream. Our area has been part of these things, so we must remember what we accomplished and inspire us all to contribute more.”

Coit is thrilled to be involved in the museum. “I’m proud to be part of a group of people who have devoted their time and effort to this project, knowing it will help preserve our local area aerospace accomplishments and encourage and enable our youth to pursue exciting and meaningful careers.”

Freedom of Flight Museum Fast Facts

Where: Joplin Regional Airport, General Aviation Terminal located at 5501 Dennis Weaver Drive, Webb City, Missouri (Note: The airport is within the city limits of Joplin. However, the Webb City Post Office services the facility.)

Mailing Address: 5511A Dennis Weaver Drive, Webb City, MO 64870

Website: www.freedomofflightmuseum.org

Email: contactus@freedomofflightmuseum.org

Phone Number: 417.553.8130 (please leave a message) or 417.540.2657

Hours of Operation: Thursday and Saturday 2-5 p.m. (or by appointment)

Admission: $2 per adult (12 and under free, starting in March)

Originated: Organized in August 2012, with first exhibits set up in 2014

Original Organizers: Darryl Coit, Darlene Coit, Angie Paige, Mark Tyrrell and Ernie Trumbly with support and encouragement from former Joplin Regional Airport Manager Steve Stockham and his staff

Museum Team: President Darryl Coit, Vice President Angie Paige, Secretary Dianne Hermann, Treasurer Steve Murray, Curator Ernie Trumbly, Director of Communications Darlene Coit and Director of Marketing June Chenot

Future Facility Plans: “We are still in the very early stages of our building project,” Darryl Coit said. “We have partnered with a local engineering firm to determine the right size and features the museum will need to be sustainable. We don’t have a timeline at this point and haven’t begun a major capital campaign yet. Modern aerospace museums are changing the way they display their exhibits. The public now desires interactive displays and hands-on activities. We will incorporate these functions in our museum. We also want to be the one-stop place for aerospace activities. This will include bringing other aerospace groups into our mix of offerings.”

By Ann Leach

Have you been seeking a sign to let you know you’re on the right path with creative or career pursuits? She may not have known she was looking for a sign, but Margie Moss got one after reading about Joplin’s upcoming sesquicentennial.

“A lightbulb went off in my mind, and I thought this would be a great way to involve area artists of all ages to tell the story of Joplin’s 150 years of history through art,” she said. “I’d always been fascinated with Joplin’s rich and fascinating mining history and had painted some of the more famous historic sights, often during a historic Murphysburg event.”

So, she invited all of the past and present artists and students from her Local Color Art Gallery and Studio to create from the large cache of Joplin history.

“Each artist chose the subject matter that piqued their interest, and artists from the Minnie Hackney Community Center added important black personalities and history to the exhibit. In the end, we had a grand showing of 92 pieces of Joplin art history in our exhibit that was on display at Spiva Center for the Arts called Local Color: REFLECTIONS of Joplin.” It was the last exhibit at the historic Cosgrove building just prior to Spiva’s move to its new home within the Cornell Complex.

The exhibit was well attended, and Moss compared the show and the city as a woven tapestry. “Each piece of art in our show was a thread of the composition. And each of us is a part of Joplin’s story. Honoring the past is important because it gives us great pride in knowing where we came from and where we’re going.”

Moss has had other signs in her life showing her the artist path was hers to embrace. It started in elementary school when her teacher praised a drawing she did of an Easter lily.

“Later, my dad and I would doodle together,” she said. “I guess art was just in our DNA. I loved creating and drawing and often designed my own clothes and then my mom, a wonderful seamstress, would do her magic with my designs.”

Moss moved forward in her creative expression after college as a graphic designer and worked at Hallmark as a design coordinator, a job that found her working alongside talented artists who inspired and encouraged her.

And then in 1980, Moss’ husband was transferred to Joplin, and the couple moved. “We were grateful to relocate here as our parents all lived nearby,” Moss said. “I started my business, Joplin Decorating Center, creating interior designs and still using my God-given talents.”

After raising her children and building her business, Moss began painting regularly with a few local artists. “We decided we needed a place to teach and continue to paint and to sell our work,” Moss said. “That’s when we formed Joplin’s first art co-op, Local Color Art Gallery and Studio, a collective of 18 artists celebrating its 13th year in the historic Gryphon building. I’ve loved every part of it.”