Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

Hands down, the most interactive museum in the area. Mike's warm welcome from the moment we walked in the door was a great touch. He explained things so we wouldn't miss a thing. Thanks, Mike. We were beyond impressed with all the information we could learn. We love being adult kids, and this museum allowed us to play. I would come back when in the area. I hope one day to come and experience the festival. The gift shop team was so nice to talk to as well. Thank you for a great experience.

We had a memorable visit in the museum. Some spaces are very kids friendly as my toddler had the opportunity to play and write/draw in a board. Besides, the museum is very well documented, with tons of resources. We love the fact that there was real size models to apprehend the concept of air balloons. Plus, the scenery is well thought and well designed. Definitely a must do in Albuquerque.

Wonderful museum! Needed a good stop on a road trip and took a chance on this museum. Tickets were inexpensive, museum was the perfect size, super bright and colorful, informative and interactive. Great for all ages. Highly recommend!

Wow ! What an amazing place. The museum offers the history of Aeronauts from its beginnings to present day. Record holders and record breakers are also a central theme as man has strived to go higher and farther in these incredible modes of escaping the ground.

What a great place! So educational and informative. Michael the greeter was a wealth of knowledge. Wonderful gift shop.

We really enjoyed this museum! Lots to look at and learn about balloons! Interactive and kid conscious and friendly. This museum is a great spot for the whole family! We especially appreciated the views onto the ballroom field! They have done a wonderful job curating this museum! The gift shop is also really great!

Outstanding adventure for an afternoon in ABQ. Informative and memorable if you like hot air ballooning. They have a nice gift shop too for ABQ souvenirs including balloon pins.

What an adorable ballooning museum! My boys love visiting museums, so we decided to stop by since it was on the way to our hotel. The museum offers a fascinating history of ballooning and how it all began. They also have a charming gift shop with unique finds. If you’re in the area, I’d definitely recommend checking it out!

Great displays of educational and historic topics around flight of balloons! See actual balloons and gondolas that carried pilots around the world and read the historical recollections of successes and failures. Very cool exhibit on weather and forecasting too. Even when the balloon festival is not running (October) this is a preset cool place to see and. Ring the kids. Reasonable entry fees, cool, well kept exhibits and knowledgeable docents to answer your questions!

What an adorable ballooning museum! My boys love visiting museums, so we decided to stop by since it was on the way to our hotel. The museum offers a fascinating history of ballooning and how it all began. They also have a charming gift shop with unique finds. If you're in the area, I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

This was a quick stop while we waited to check in to our hotel. It was a cute museum. I think it would be fun for children. I did enjoy playing with the interactive exhibits. There is a senior discount and the cost was very reasonable.

Wonderful museum free on Sunday! This place was really so cool... If you've ever been in Albuquerque during the balloon fiesta, you know what a riot this place is. I learned so much about early ballooning... Crossing the Atlantic, going around the world... I can't even imagine doing that. This is a must do if you come to Albuquerque.

Great ballooning museum. Beyond the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, there are displays on the early history, technology, and achievements of balloons. Gondolas from historic flights are on display. As to the science, an interactive display explains how weather interacts with ballooning. I really enjoy the global approach to the topic of ballooning that this museum takes. So may others focus on the local history and you leave with a feeling of emptiness. That is not the case here. Worth the visit.

It's the larger complex on the campus and further down the road, not the first smaller building when you turn onto balloon road. There are signs for Covid tests in the same lot as the museum. $6/adult out of stater, quite a reasonable entry fee. So much information and the history of balloons, it's balloon 101 and weather too.

This was a short stop while waiting to check into our hotel. It was inexpensive. There were some really fun interactive things. Other areas had a lot of reading and pictures. We had just driven 7 hours so we didn't feel up to reading. If you are interested in hot air balloons this is your stop.

One of the best things about Albuquerque is, by far, the hot air ballooning that happens here, and this museum does a great job showcasing it's history. We attended Stories in the sky (usually happens every Wednesday) and enjoyed story time and craft time. A local author read his own Children's book, called Curly Crow. And afterwards the kids could meet him, make a craft or two, and play lawn games. In my opinion, this is one of the most organized kid activities in the city and it is free for ages 0-6. Plus, everyone who attends is welcome to explore the museum afterwards.

Balloons...and SNOW!! Nice to spend about an hour learning about the history, science and adventurers in ballooning on a snowy winter day. Named after two Albuquerque pilots, Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson were part of the first crews to make a successful trans-Atlantic crossing in a balloon in 1978, followed by a trans-Pacific in 1981. Interesting to learn about their expeditions and others, both successful and not. The permanent and special exhibits offered different insights into the challenges faced by balloon pilots and how balloons fly. The tragic expedition to try to reach the North Pole by S. A. Andree in 1897 was fascinating and quite sad. Nice to also see many women in ballooning featured throughout the museum as well. Although several exhibits and the 4-D Theater were closed, it was reassuring to be the only two guests in the museum. Social distancing and face masks are mandatory. Timed entry required and limited to 90 minute time slots. Information was taken for contact tracing which fortunately was not needed. Interested in learning more? Several virtual tours are available to visit the museum from the comfort and safety of your own home.

We have been to the museum a few times. The most recent was after the morning ascension for Fiesta! What a cute museum with lots of interesting facts about ballooning. We went with a 1 year old and an 8 year old and they both had a fun time. Baby changing station available in a private bathroom! Yay! We love to see that!! Warning if you go during fiesta, some parts may be closed off for events!

Sooooo this isn't really the festival's fault but I was sooooo disappointed and so were my kids, when all the balloon launches were canceled due to weather. We flex from Philly ... paid tons of money for this vip experience and saw nothing. Also the food was very mediocre.... It was bland and lacked seasoning. The hot chocolate was watery and somehow so was the wiped cream. The mimosas were good and potent though so there's that!

What a great museum! We lucked into a free Sunday admission, but even on a normal day, the fee is nominal (circa $6). It is a fascinating collection of balloon related artifacts and displays. Our favorites were the balloon simulators. It is great for all ages too!

Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum has reopened again however require tickets (which are timed) be purchased online in advance. Please note that this museum is closed on Mondays and has their own very large parking lot (free). This museum opened in 2005 and has all things about ballooning with equipment and plenty of memorabilia to read about and look at up close. This museum is named after Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson, who were part of the crew who had first successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon in 1978 and the Pacific Ocean in 1981. In addition to following their journey, you also will learn the history of ballooning (yep that's a real word). The first balloon flight took place in 1783 and has be used as a way to explore the world, use as secret espionage, used as scientific experiments and also for adventure. With so many exhibits, the one that I found to be the most interesting (besides the one about Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson) is the Andree's Artic Balloon Expedition. In 1897, three Swedish men were in a hot air balloon that was supposed to sail over the North Pole but instead crashed into the ice because they lost hydrogen to keep their balloon up. This was 2 days after they had started out on their journey. With their balloon ripped and unable to repair, the three men set up camp. With such harsh conditions of the Arctic, it ended in death for the 3 of them (this isn't a story with a happy ending unfortunately). It wasn't until in 1930, their remains of their camp that they had set up was found that the world had found out what happened to this trio. Part of what was found were their body remains (unfortunately was gnawed by polar bears), dairies, cameras and film from their journey. With the remains of their bodies recovered, a funeral was held in 1930 for them in Stockholm. The 4D theater was closed on our visit, due to the pandemic and a few other exhibits were as well. But admission price is only $6 per adult ($3 for children aged 6-17), which is well worth a visit if you would like to spend some time learning about ballooning.

I like museums, but this one was disappointing. I was hoping to see more hot air balloons, but what I got was an overabundance of information about weather and hot air balloon history and expeditions. I'm rating it extra stars for the cool collections of colorful hot air balloon pins and the free admission. If you're able to come here on the first Friday of the month or on Sundays between 9am and 1pm, it's free admission.

Wasn't overly impressed. Definitely more geared towards children. Pretty small museum.

Enjoyed the Museum. It takes at least a couple of hours to do it justice. Lots of information. Displayed well...great memorabilia to say the least. Could be enjoyable for all age groups, for sure. My only suggestion to the staff their eould be to give a little better guidance in going around to each exhibit. I noticed many of us started at the end of an exhibit instead of the beginning. Suggestive markers would be helpful. I think everyone who has ever a balloon ascension or rodeo glow over the years would find the museum interesting. Inexpensive as well. Now would be a great time to visit!!!

We were in Albuquerque for the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. The Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum is located immediately adjacent to the grounds of the balloon festival. Since the festival is primarily an early morning and early evening event, we had plenty of time to explore during the afternoon. My wife had heard rave reviews for the balloon museum and it was something she really wanted to see. We weren't disappointed. The museum's primary focus is on "gas" ballooning as opposed to the "hot air" balloon focus of the balloon festival. The museum offers a comprehensive history of gas ballooning and includes a lot of exhibits and artifacts from the 1st cross-country; the 1st trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific balloon flights. The guide for our tour was an actual licensed balloon pilot/captain. He had a wealth of knowledge regarding ballooning. The balloon museum is a must-see attraction in Albuquerque - whether or not you're here for the balloon festival. The festival and the museum both stand on their own as Albuquerque attractions.

This review is mostly for the balloons and breakfast event during the Balloon Fiesta. In all honesty, six months ago I was trying to get tickets to the Gondola club at the Balloon Fiesta and it was SOLD OUT for Saturday morning. Frantic, I started googling and found this event. For $75/pp, we got a rockstar view of mass ascension from the balcony, breakfast buffet with coffee/tea/juice, access to the museum, and a parking pass. We were even invited to come back during the evening to check out the museum and watch the balloon glow from their patio/field. I actually think this was better value than the Gondola club, although you weren't able to get onto the field and get up close and personal with the balloons and the view was slightly obstructed due to the white tents on the field. I wouldn't hesitate to book this event again. We got the experience without the huge crowds and chaos! We did a run through of the museum, and it was ok. Admittedly, I was too tired from waking up at 4am to really focus on everything there.

This museum is so awesome and amazing!! We decided to try the "Balloons and Breakfast" event here last month during the Balloon Fiesta because we heard from Tam at the Tour New Mexico that it was a great option for our family member, who is disabled. Our family member was unable to go out on the Balloon field because he needs to use a walker or a wheelchair, and both can not easily be maneuvered and pushed through the grass on the field. All of the museum employees are very friendly, courteous, and welcoming!! The great thing about the Balloon Museum is that it is very walker- and wheelchair-accessible, and it makes it extremely feasible for guests with disabilities (and their families) to enjoy spectacular and fantastic views of the Mass Ascension or the Evening Balloon Glow from the second floor dining area, or the adjacent outdoor balcony! We opted for the "Balloons and Breakfast" event so that we could have breakfast and enjoy the Mass Ascension. But the museum also has a "Dine and Glow" dinner option for guests who want to watch the Evening Balloon Glow. Some people like these options so that they can enjoy some of the best views of the hot air balloons from inside a building, which is nice and warm, and has flushing toilets! For us, it was super important and very helpful that this museum has an ADA family restroom, so we could assist our family member with his restroom needs. We also loved how we could get unlimited helpings of breakfast items and drinks with our "Balloons and Breakfast" Tickets! After the Mass Ascension finished in the morning, we got to tour the Balloon Museum and learn how hot air balloons are designed and made, and also about the intriguing history of the hot air balloon and how the annual Balloon Fiesta event started. The museum also has extremely interactive displays and exhibits for both kids and adults to try out and learn about! We would highly recommend this Balloon Museum to anyone visiting Albuquerque, whether or not you are here during Balloon Fiesta time!

The museum is beautiful and very interesting. There are lots of things to see and learn about. The staff is always available and helpful in getting you to exhibits. The views are amazing and well worth the visit.

Very nice place for gathering the history of ballooning in America. Will visit again sometime.

Fascinating museum. One of the high points of our visit to Albuquerque. It is currently under construction, and looked like it was closed from the outside. But we ventured in anyway to find out not only was it open, but it was free due to the construction. All of the exhibits were well done and up to date. I especially like the weather exhibit. We got so engrossed in the exhibits that they nearly closed up with us inside. I am only sad that they shut the store early I can imagine all the neat things they had in the store that we missed out on.

What a DELIGHT. Museums about really specific things are appealing because so many topics get included within the thread. This is a well curated museum that includes the history, the science, the future/trends of , and the people of ballooning. Whether you are into the circus, postal mail, WW2 history, space, setting records, or colorful designs there is really an impressive amount of topics ballooning covers and relates to in this place! Seeing the whole science room explaining how flying works with the weather, and what makes New Mexico a hot spot, was fascinating. Children's section is super cute and fun, with games and an impressive selection of picture books all with hot air balloons. I loved hot air balloons before this, then seeing the families ballooning together and all the excitement in the museum made me think they are even cooler! If you ever plan to go up in a balloon, this is a place to see.

A beautiful setting, a great location for events, and wonderful information on anything and everything about ballooning. Great for the off-season when Balloon Fiesta isn't in session. But, the main reason for the visit was for the opening of the Weather Lab. Very informative for kids and adults alike, weather enthusiasts or not - it's interesting to see how much balloon pilots rely on weather information for a safe flight. Interactive and very spacious layout. I was impressed

This was honestly one of the saving graces of our trip to Albuquerque. We're kind of a balloon family. Not really on purpose, but kind of by chance. We went on a hot air balloon as a couple, before kids. Then we moved to a town in IL that has a balloon festival every year. The town is 23,000, so it was pretty awesome having such a cool local festival. We fell in love with some of the balloons and it was just our thing to attend every year. Then, we moved to Reno. Reno had their own every year, so we went to that one. Now we're in Arizona and thought... let's just get a hotel room for a couple nights and sprint to Albuquerque for the INTERNATIONAL Balloon festival. I mean, it's only 6.5 hours and our kids love balloons. Well, we must have really timed things horribly because they didn't lift any balloons. In fact, the envelopes weren't even going up. It was depressing to drive our small kiddos 13 hours round trip and see nothing. BUT WE DIDN'T see nothing... we saw the balloon museum! And God bless it. It was super cool. They have the actual baskets from these world-renowned trips around the world present to check out and touch. They had exhibits on all things related to balloon dynamics, weather and flying. It was very cool. We're so happy we went to check this out, because we almost didn't. If you have a chance to come on over and just lounge in their super cool concrete chairs out back, too, do so. It was a fun time.

I originally planned only to drop by the museum gift shop to get a pressed penny but decided to stay and check out the museum after going on a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque. Why not round out the experience and learn all about the history of hot air ballooning. That we did. I was impressed with how in depth the museum research was. It was well presented and the building was lovely. Great space for events too. While we were there they had story time and coloring for kids. This is a nice family friendly museum and fun for little ones. We enjoyed our time spent at the balloon museum. I loved seeing all the pins from the balloon fiesta and learning about hot air balloon expeditions and the origins in France. We tried many times to watch the 4D movie but the film kept breaking. Nonetheless, the staff was really nice and apologetic about it. This is a museum where you will spend no more than an hour. Even if a visit is short, it is still worth the $6 entrance fee.

There are some interesting artifacts and history, and an attempt to span the story of ballooning from the 18th century to today. However, the museum is exceptionally poorly organized and fails to explain fully either: 1) The important role ballooning has had in scientific discovery, space exploration, and the military, or 2) How ballooning developed from a daredevil niche to a popular sport around the world. There is no real effort put into showing how a modern balloon operates--either gas or hot air. Honestly, the museum focuses on elements of the story that can be told by the stuff some prominent Albuquerque ballooning families had laying around in the garage.

I didn't love this museum personally - I read about the history of the balloon fiesta, balloon history in general and the science behind balloons. Maybe I am just not that into learning about balloons - it just didn't grab me. I appreciated some of the interactive exhibits that show how balloons work. This would be a good place to take your child before the actual fiesta to explain how everything functions. Nothing particularly unique in the gift shop.

Beautiful museum with a great history and depiction of hot air ballooning, I learned all kinds of things there and they have some hands on activities for the little ones too. We were met at the door by someone enthusiastic about this museum and gave us a mini briefing over what was located where. The price can't be beat. I got one of the free NM tourist cards they give away at the tourist information booth and got 25% off each person, so our $11.00 admission was only $6.25. When can you get that kind of deal?

The funny thing is that my kid's favorite spot was the big empty conference room, where they could experiment with a regular fan in the room, and the echo in the room. The actual exhibits were also pretty cool. Who knew the balloon history was so full of weird and neat baskets and types. I especially liked the one made out of a boat. They should have a real hot air balloon taking off from the lawn every day!

Albuquerque is the quintessential ballooning town, so where else would you expect to find the premiere museum in ballooning! This museum is clearly designed by and for balloon enthusiasts - it's exuberant and unapologetic in a charmingly geeky kind of way. It covers the history of ballooning, the science of ballooning, and famous ballooners and ballooning expeditions. I especially enjoyed the segment of the museum on weather - it was fascinating to learn more about the science of wind, hurricanes, lightning, and other seemingly magical weather phenomenon. The museum is quite large, and you could easily spend over an hour here reading and exploring the exhibits. So if you have some free time and want to unwind and educate yourself on ballooning, there's no better place!

No one can come to Albuquerque and not stop here. So much information and detail. It's closed right now but I have been here before with family's kids and just enjoy the time.

What a place. Spacious and full of interesting displays of hot air ballooning from the past. Plenty of parking. Location to Balloon Fiesta Park is fabulous, Excellent for the whole family.

The Balloon Museum was great. Our admission was free because we came before 1pm. There was many interesting and hands on things for kids to do. Also a very cool 4d video on hot air and gas ballooning.

Really enjoyed the museum...docents give you the history and lay of the land...then self-paced tour. Fun, informative, educational and interactive...Try the simulator!!!

I was not sure what to expect here but the Yelp reviews were good so we gave it a try. What a great value for this incredible experience. I learned so much about the balloon pioneers. If you are touring this area, make sure you take about 90 minutes to get the history of ballooning. We had the most fun in the simulator where you take off and land a balloon and get points for your performance. I don't think I will be flying a real one soon!

Lots to do and see. So much information exists that I didn't even think about - farthest flight on a balloon, first person to cross the Atlantic ocean, etc. There's a 4-D movie that's included in the ultra low price ticket of $4 (for out-of staters). Large, clean bathroom facilities inside, and friendly staff willing to take your pic.

I went to the Balloon Museum for one of the Diamond Club events during the Fiesta. It's a really nice facility and one of those places that you don't think to go if you live in Albuquerque year-round, so it was cool to check it out as if I were a tourist! The staff was super friendly, there were colorful and informative exhibits about the history of ballooning, and a cute little gift shop full of knick-knacks. Plus there's ample parking which is always a perk. I could definitely see elementary school field trips happening there, as well as using it as an event space for corporate dinners or wedding receptions. And you can't beat the view from the upstairs deck of the balloon field and mountains!

I wouldn't have guessed there was enough about balloons to have a big museum. Although the exterior looks like a movie megaplex, its contents have plenty about the origins of ballooning to the present transcontinental flights. During our 1-hour visit, there were no clowns twisting balloons into animal shapes. It's not that kind of balloon. Also, you don't need to visit the zoo to see a road runner. I found one illegally parked in a handicapped parking space (see pic).

Interesting if you like ballooning. With such an influence of hot air ballooning in Albuquerque, it was interesting to go an learn more about the history of balloons, how they work and other things.

As far as balloons go this museum has it all. Great history coverage, replicas, games for kids, a few science experiments, collectibles, history, etc. My 5yr old son loves to go again and again and again. The admission for NM residents is a steal at $3 for adults, and free for him, so that's ok. Year round the museum is fairly quiet, night a day compared to Balloon Fiesta of course. I'm knocking down one star for the complete lack of accommodations for sitting down and having a coffee or soda. It should be easy to have a self-service coffee machine and soda dispenser to allow visitors to relax while enjoying the view from the second floor.

We went for the New Years Eve event. It was so fun!! The scavenger hunt was fun, and we loved reading about traditions around the world. But, the best part of the day was the volunteers. They took time to explain so many things, ask my kids questions, share their own stories, etc. It wasn't just one volunteer, it was ALL of them. It made the experience even more special!

I was disappointed. Expected more balloons. Went to go see the movie, waited for it to start and instead it reset to start again. We were there for less than a half hour.

My wife isn't the first Burqueño that's admitted -- naw, straight up stated outright -- that she don't care squat about hot air balloons. Far as she's concerned, our local obsession is just hot air. And I hear what she's saying, I can appreciate it. She grew up here, and she's done with balloons, Kokopelli, turquoise, the schlock that embodies the southwest. I get it. Hence, a museum that celebrates balloonist culture is the last place most locals would consider visiting. It's for tourists. We fell victim to a visit many years back, because we made a kid together, and it just so happens that the museum offers these free storytelling classes for kids: Stories in the Sky. A friend of mine, Laurie Magovern, is the storyteller, and she's good -- really good. The room, in the northeast quadrant of the facility, frames the Sandia Mountains and the open field of the Fiesta park in gorgeous panorama. The stories are a pretty sweet gig for stay-home parents, every Wednesday at 9:30 and 11am. Laurie's terrific, and she often has special guests. I'll concede that the museum itself isn't executed in a linear fashion or narrative on any level; you're simply browsing, bottom and top floor, around here. But I'd argue that the culture itself is pretty scatter-shot, and the mere idea of constructing a museum that celebrates its history is rather presumptive to begin with. But I get the architecture. This sedentary building aspires to great heights, and it obviously can't lift off the ground, so natural light and spacious exhibits give it the feel of what I can only imagine would be a lift-off in the basket of a hot air balloon. It's worth a flight.

This museum was interesting and well worth the $4 entrance fee. I had no idea ballooning started in France, people had ballooned around the world, and there were hot air balloon bombs sent from Japan to the US during WWII. You'll also be able to learn why Albuquerque is such a good ballooning spot, too. If you go during the Fiesta, though, be forewarned that the museum may be a little short on amenities. When we went, the cafe was closed for a special event-- there was NO WHERE to sit (which, after standing at the am Fiesta, my feet wanted to do) and no where to get something to drink. At least, not that I could find. Things may have been a bit more hectic inside because of the Fiesta-- more crowds, closed cafes, and more. But it was still worth the walk to the far end of the field, and the visit!

After spending some time at the Balloon Fiesta, we came back to explore the Balloon Museum on a different day. As seniors, It only cost us $4 admission. I see that it is free on first Fridays, and on Sundays from 9 to 1:00 p.m. There is easy parking in front of building, and super enthusiastic volunteers waiting inside. We were greeted immediately upon entering by Roxanne, who gave an explained a brochure map to us carefully, then directed us to the first of two film. We were updated and directed inside the first film by a volunteer family, Gil, Liz and Jessica, who later gave us some recommendations for market shopping and lunch in Corrales. We super enjoyed this display and learning, and I was very impressed that the Union army used hot air balloons for surveillance during the Civil War! Was also impressed to lean that many European nations as well as the US started launching hot air balloons over 200 years ago. Some colorful balloons and great displays. There is a fabulous gift shop, and they have great earrings, shirts and mobiles, calendars and dog treats as well as tourist stuff. Nice place to tour and get presents to take home!

Interesting but nothing fascinating. Small space. Most interesting exhibit was first polar exploration via balloon and how the explorers died.

I've been to this great museum twice -- once to see the exhibits thoroughly, and another time to bring my granddaughter to the pre-Christmas weekend events. As for the exhibits, the depth, uniqueness, and quality all characterize this museum. You learn a great deal about the history and technology of hot-air ballooning., and see many historical and one-of-kind fascinating objects. Some of the exhibits are hand-on, where you can play with devices that demonstrate the principles of ballooning. There really is nothing quite like this museum anywhere else, and it's a must-see highlight of any visit to ABQ. In the weeks before Christmas, check out the special events that are free with admission. Where else in the world is it possible to get a picture of yourself with Santa while standing the the wicker gondola of a hot-air balloon? We also decorated cookies with frosting and sprinkles, listened to two entertaining musical performances, made tree ornaments, and generally enjoyed ourselves at activities that appeal to all ages. You'd have to be a grinch not to like this place.

What a wonderful surprise. Who knew that a museum about balloons could be so interesting! This place was fascinating, spotless and informative. You are welcomed by a bright and cheery entrance with a display of hot air balloons. They had seek and finds for the kids to do, interactive exhibits and just some great informative exhibits. Our family ranging from 1 1/2-11 spent four hours here and didn't have any meltdowns. Everyone had a great time. Wheelchair friendly.