Aim High featuring Black Wings opens at Cape Fear Museum

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen makes its debut at Cape Fear Museum of History and Science.

Created by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with Hosanna House. This exhibition will be on view at Cape Fear Museum through September 7, 2025.

According to a press release, in this exhibition, visitors explore aviation through a range of hands-on activities including:

• Cockpit Flight Trainer: Get an up-close view of the inside of a Cock Pit Flight Trainer. Watch videos of the plane taking off and landing from the captain’s seat advantage point. This life-size Cock Pit Flight Trainer is perfect for dramatic play and also includes a row of actual airplane seats.
• Things that Fly Praxinoscpe: See images of things that fly come to life using this early form of animation. Switch out the custom-made cards to bring other images to life.
• Land the Plane Maze: Inspired by Air Traffic Control Radar, visitors guide the ball to a safe landing, tilting the round table top to avoid the red planes working all the way around to the landing strip.
• Imagination Mirrors: Interactive, mirror activated by pressure sensitive mats, exposing images of airplanes. This activity helps children see themselves in roles in the aviation field.
• Wearable Wings: Children can build and wear a pair of wearable airplane wings and imagine they are flying through the sky.

The exhibition features Black Wings, American Dreams of Flight organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The exhibition was made possible by the generous support of MetLife Foundation. It chronicles the story of African Americans, who, despite facing racial barriers, attained great achievements in the world of aviation

“We are excited to announce the opening of this new exhibition as we begin the month of February and a celebration of Black History Month,” stated Kate Baillon, Museum Director. “STEM education is integral to the Museum’s mission and this interactive exhibit invites visitors to explore the field of aviation and aeronautics while also learning about the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.”

Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is located at 814 Market Street and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Standard admission prices are $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, students, and military with valid ID; $5 for children 6-17; and free for children 5 and under and for museum members. New Hanover County residents’ free day is the first Sunday of each month.