The Good Life – September-October 2014

More documents

Recommendations

Info

BY: JESSICA JASPERSON | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA The Fargo Air Museum started as a concept in the minds of Gerry Beck and Robert Odegaard. Both men were crop sprayers in North Dakota, but also aircraft aficionados. Beck and Odegaard owned shops for aircraft maintenance, and fell in love with warbird restoration and making parts. Naturally, opening a museum came next for these two pilots. In order to showcase the various aircraft and restoration projects, Beck and Odegaard along with other people interested in aviation, started looking into the viability of the Fargo community supporting an air museum. In 2001, the air museum opened as a non-profit organization with the help of hard working volunteers. “A lot of sweat equity went into the building when it started,” Fargo Air Museum director of operations Helen O’Connor said. “The museum has grown considerably since that time and has really become a vital asset in our community.” 8 Before the Fargo Air Museum’s doors first opened, founding board members envisioned what the museum would give to those who visited. The vision sprouted from a mission to provide aviation education through restoration and preservation. “It was an exciting time with a lot of volunteer hours going into the museum and in-kind donations into getting it built,” O’Connor said. “It was very exciting and I think emotional, especially the Beck-Odegaard aspect of
Fargo Air Museum expands education, restoration, preservation opportunities it. They were thrilled to be able to have a place to display the aircraft they did have.” After thirteen years of living out the museum’s mission and displaying rare aircraft, excitement brews as the “Beck- Odegaard Wing” prepares to open. Since the museum opening, Beck and Odegaard have both passed away. The wing will honor aviation preservation and education, as well as both men’s dedication to the Fargo Air Museum. The new 100-foot-by-150-foot building will provide more space and opportunity to showcase different sections, including different themes from history, much like the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Fargo Air Museum CEO, Scott Fletcher, said themes focused on World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Beck-Odegaard, Indian tribes, women in aviation and NASA will be incorporated into the buildings depending on donations. The museum has high hopes of being a worldly attraction, but still wants those who visit to experience North Dakota specifically through aviation history. “We really want to ensure North Dakota is the main focus of the museum,” Fletcher said. “We have great depth and richness in our culture in the state of North Dakota that needs to be highlighted in our museum artifacts. Our people are our greatest asset of the state.” Since the Fargo Air Museum planning began before 2001, three building phases made up the grand picture. After the second phase, the “Beck- 9
Page 1 and 2: 3
Page 3 and 4: www.GENTLEMANSEMPORIUM.com Premium
Page 5 and 6: CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dawn Siewert dawn
Page 7: more raw, “Well fine then, why do
Page 11 and 12: Fletcher said. “The variety makes
Page 13 and 14: “To impress yourself and others w
Page 15 and 16: “We really believe in the craft s
Page 17 and 18: Brewery tours are also available an
Page 19 and 20: Name: Dave Jacobs Occupation: Morni
Page 21 and 22: The coating Jacobs uses when he wan
Page 23 and 24: BY: JESSICA BALLOU PHOTOS: URBAN TO
Page 25 and 26: dislocated kneecaps, broken fingers
Page 27 and 28: He was also quick to bring up all t
Page 29 and 30: to talk about — if you can’t ha
Page 31 and 32: LOCAL HEROES VOLUNTEERS RISKING THE
Page 33 and 34: cutting one of the divers. The enti
Page 35 and 36: is like having blinders on. I’ve

The Good Life – September-October 2014

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?