Upcoming Events
Dinner with a Slice of History Researching Black Women in Aviation: Barriers & Breakthroughs
March 25, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. (EDT)
1501 N Marginal Rd, Cleveland, OH - Burke Lakefront Airport
The International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM) is pleased to announce the return of Dinner with a Slice of History, a program made possible through a Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) grant.
When Bessie Coleman made her U.S. barnstorming debut in 1922, her exhibition flights inspired more African Americans to become aviators. Over the next few decades, Black women took to the skies, earned licenses, and did their best to integrate the burgeoning aviation industry. The challenges of researching these women often keeps them out of the history books. Piecing together their stories takes time, energy, perseverance, and trust. In this program IWASM welcomes U.S. Air Force (ret.) and cultural historian Monica Smith to discuss her mission to document and share the stories of these remarkable women.
Registration is required prior to the event.
- Non-IWASM members - $25
- IWASM members - $15
- Get Tickets & Join IWASM for 1 year - $55
- Virtual -- minimum $5 donation
In person tickets include admittance to the program, and a boxed dinner. In person ticket purchase deadline is March 18, 2022. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Past Events
Exclusive Book Launch: Teresa James WAFS Pilot by Sarah Rickman
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (via ZOOM)
During World War II, the WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots included a blend of two groups - the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). Hear from critically-acclaimed author, Sarah Rickman as she releases her newest book Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down - a P-47 to Newark on October 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
In this exclusive book launch, Rickman joins the International Women's Air & Space Museum as 
she discusses her experiences interviewing Teresa James in 1999 and James's experiences flying during the Second World War.
Registration is required. Attendees will receive a Zoom link to join the program. The event will be recorded and made available to participants at a later date. Cost is a suggested $10 minimum donation which goes to directly support the International Women's Air & Space Museum.
At the time of registration, get your copy of Rickman's newest book and snag an exclusive bundle deal for all Young Adult books! Also available is Rickman's advanced reader The Originals: The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron.
- Teresa James WAFS Pilot - $17.95 (includes S&H)
- Young Adult Bundle - $52.00 (includes S&H)
- The Originals - $29.95 (includes S&H)
Women in the Armed Forces: From WWII and Beyond
Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
During World War II, 1,102 American women flew as part of the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) - a blend of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). During the war, women also served in various other roles as well – not just pilots. However, more than 77 years since the WASP were disbanded, more is still being re-discovered about women's roles in the U.S. Military. In honor of Veteran's Day, join International Women's Air & Space Museum Executive Director Sara Fisher as she explores and shares the
contributions of women in the military. Learn about the leaders, participants, and trailblazers in the changing face of the U.S. military since the Second World War and the obstacles they faced with particular attention to women in air and space.
This event is in partnership with the Liverpool (NY) Public Library. The event is free and open to the public. Registration required, and all participants will receive a Zoom link to attend.
"Diary of an Apprentice Astronaut" Book Discussion - (VIRTUAL)
October 17 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) via Zoom
Join IWASM and Loganberry Books as they welcome Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti for a special virtual event on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. She will discuss her book Diary of an Apprentice Astronaut in a conversation moderated by IWASM Trustee and Space Advisor, Marcy Frumker. Selected in the 2009 European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut class, the Italian 
Cristoforetti is set to launch aboard the SpaceX Crew-4 mission in spring 2022. She will become the first ESA female commander of the International Space Station (ISS) during her upcoming space flight next year. During her first mission in 2014, Cristoforetti spent 200 days in space – setting the record for longest duration in space by a female astronaut at the time. In her book, she provides an intimate account of her first journey to the ISS, and guides the reader through becoming apprentice astronauts themselves.
The event will take place via Zoom. Registration is required and all participants will receive a Zoom link to join.
Buy the Book!
Buy and support your local bookstores! Books may be purchased ahead of time at the time of registration through Loganberry Books. IWASM members will receive 10% discount with promo code IWASM good through October 31, 2021.
Corks on the Concourse Returns for 2021!
Friday, September 3, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. EDT
IWASM is pleased to announce the much-anticipated return of Corks on the Concourse! This signature event will take place at Burke Lakefront Airport the day before the return of the Cleveland National Air Show. This year, we will host the event both in person and virtually. The decision to host a hybrid event was easy as we know folks have enjoyed engaging with the museum in fun, new, and exciting ways from where they are across the globe. 
Dinner with a Slice of History World War II Women in Aviation: An Exploration in Leadership
September 17, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT)
1501 N Marginal Rd, Cleveland, OH - Burke Lakefront Airport
The International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM) is pleased to announce the return of Dinner with a Slice of History, a program made possible through a Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) grant.
During the Second World War, the Soviet Union and United States established segregated organizations for the purpose of recruiting and training women for aviation duties. In both nations, it was individuals, rather than the military establishment, who proposed and developed plans for the use of women aviators. The women who spearheaded those efforts had dramatically different leadership styles, from Marina Raskova’s quiet, businesslike, and approachable character, to Jacqueline Cochran’s brash, forceful, and sometimes antagonistic nature. Yet they employed strikingly similar methods to achieve their goals. In this presentation, Professor Reina Pennington will examine the parallels and differences in the lives and achievements of these two remarkable women.
Pennington is a former Air Force intelligence officer; she served as a Soviet analyst with F-4 and F-16 fighter squadrons, the Aggressor Squadrons, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Alaskan Air Command. She is the author of Wings, Women and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat, and is presently working on a book entitled What Russia Can Teach Us About War.
WALLY FUNK MAKES HISTORY - A Day of Live Virtual Programs in Celebration
July 20, 2021 beginning at 7:30 a.m. (EDT) via Zoom and Facebook
Join IWASM as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Mercury 13, and Wally Funk's next record-setting flight! On Tuesday, July 20 starting at 7:30 a.m. EDT, coverage begins of the Blue Origin launch. Wally Funk, the youngest participant of the 1961 Women in Space Program will finally achieve her life-long dream of space exploration. 
To celebrate, the museum will host a series of virtual programs via Zoom and streamed to Facebook.
- 7:30 a.m. EDT - Live coverage from Blue Origin (Facebook only)
- 8:00 a.m. EDT - Legacy of the Mercury 13 presented by Marcy Frumker
- Join IWASM Trustee and Space Advisor, Marcy Frumker explore the lasting legacy of the Mercury 13. Learn about the role these women played in the history of the American space program, and how they paved the way for current roles within space and NASA. This event is part of the celebration for Wally Funk, the youngest participant in the Mercury 13 in 1961, finally realizing her life-long dream as she launched aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.The event will be recorded and live streamed to Facebook. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
- 1:00 p.m. EDT - Hear some never-before-seen interviews with Wally Funk.
- Join IWASM Space Advisor for the reveal of never-before-seen interviews with Wally Funk conducted in 2019 during her visit to the museum. Learn about her accomplishments, legacy, and her impact on the worlds of aviation and aerospace.Registration is required, and is free and open to the public. The program will be recorded and live streamed to Facebook. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Women in WWII Aviation
July 28, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) via Zoom *adjust for timezones accordingly
During World War II, 1,102 American women flew as part of the WASP. Women played important, and oftentimes understated roles during the Second World War. In this program attendees will join International Women's Air & Space Museum Executive Director Sara Fisher as she explores 
the vital roles women played during the global conflict. From manufacturing to nursing, to research and other facets of aviation, this program will shine a light on not only American women's experiences during the war and aviation, but international connections.
The event is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated as they enable IWASM to continue its vital work of providing relevant, engaging, and accessible programs for all.
Registration is required. Attendees will receive a Zoom link to join the program. The event will be recorded and made available to participants at a later date.
This event is in conjunction with the Women at War: The Women Airforce Service Pilots exhibit currently on loan to California Aeronautical University.
A Brief History of the Women Airforce Service Pilots
July 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) via Zoom
During World War II, 1,102 American women flew as part of the WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots – and were a blend of two groups. In the Fall of 1942, Nancy Love formed and led the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) comprised of 28 women who each had a minimum of 500 flying hours. That same year, Jacqueline Cochran was authorized to recruit female pilots to fly Army trainers and were dubbed the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). 
By the summer of 1943, Cochran was appointed Director of all Women Pilots and renamed the WAFS and WFTD as the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Join acclaimed author and IWASM advisor, Sarah Rickman, to learn more about the individuals who made up the WAFS and WASP in an evening of discussion and viewing of the film Six WAFS Up Close and Personal which tells the story of the original 28 WAFS.
This event is in conjunction with the Women at War: The Women Airforce Service Pilots exhibit currently on loan to California Aeronautical University. To learn more, visit www.iwasm.org or email info@iwasm.org.
Defying the Odds: Exploring the Impact of Women and Aviation in the First Half of the 20th Century - VIRTUAL EXHIBIT OPENING
June 30, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) via Zoom
Join IWASM staff and Ohio History Service Corps members as we unveil the museum's newest virtual exhibit. Learn about the lives of women like Katherine Sui Fun Cheung, Bessie Coleman, Hazel Ying Lee, and Lotfia El Nadi, and others, the context in which they broke barriers, and hear about the future initiatives to showcase the history of women in air and space. While the guest curators 
touch on just a handful of women from across the globe, this is the first installment in IWASM's slate of new and appealing ways we are engaging our communities.
Rocket Day 2021
June 16, 2021
Session I @ 10:30 a.m. ; Session II @ 1:00 p.m.
- Early Bird (by June 9, 2021) - $2.00/person
- Full Cost (June 9 - June 16) - $3.00/person
History of Women in Aviation with Geauga Parks's Skywatcher's Club
April 5, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) via Zoom
During this program, join International Women's Air & Space Museum's Executive Director Sara Fisher as we explore the role of women in aviation and aerospace. Participants will learn about their accomplishments, obstacles, and their enduring legacy in all
areas of aviation and aerospace. From the first woman to solo a balloon in the 18th century to Bessie Coleman's dream to establish a flight school to the women who briefly called the International Space Station home, this program provides a glimpse into lesser known histories.
the collections cared for at the International Women's Air & Space Museum. Learn about the women who underwent testing at the Lovelace facility, and who would make history as the first to undergo astronaut testing beginning in 1961. Now known as the "Mercury 13," engage with the history of these remarkable women through the lens of their personal records, flying trophies, and more. This program is in conjunction with the current exhibit on loan to the California Aeronautical University.
However, it took another 20 years before Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. In this program, learn about the remarkable women who became known as the Mercury 13. Attendees will understand how their efforts eventually aided NASA's acceptance of women in NASA's Astronaut Corps.
partnership with the Shaker Historical Society, the International Women's Air & Space Museum will highlight the impact and contributions of women from the greater Cleveland area from pilots to engineers to parachutists and more.Join Executive Director Sara Fisher for a free virtual meet and greet!
Hear about what's been happening at IWASM, our plans for 2021, and more. Learn about what is in store to celebrate IWASM's 45th Anniversary, the 60th Anniversary of the Mercury 13, and get a chance
to share your thoughts as the organization gets underway with
strategic planning.The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Jan. 21, 2021 - Kathryn Sullivan: Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut's Story of Invention (Online)
Come celebrate the paperback release of Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan's memoir, "Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut's Story of Invention" about her pioneering work as a NASA astronaut--and the first American woman to walk in space.
For this *virtual* book talk, Dr. Sullivan will be joined in conversation with Marcy Frumker, Board Member and Space Advisor of IWASM, along with Loganberry Books serving as the main host.
Sheila L. Chamberlain – First African-American Female Combat Intelligence Pilot for the U.S. Army
Gigi Coleman – Great-Niece of Aviatrix Bessie Coleman
Wally Funk – Member of Mercury 13
Ric Gillespie – Executive Director of TIGHAR, Amelia Earhart expeditions
Stephanie Caisse-Harris – Author of “A Corpsman’s Legacy”
Stephanie Johnson – Delta’s First African-American Female Pilot
Sarah B. Rickman – Author & Historian, WAFS and WASP
Shaesta Waiz – Afghan Refugee, Youngest Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe in a Single-Engine Plane
Gigi Coleman – Great-Niece of Aviatrix Bessie Coleman
Harry Haskell – Author, Grandson of Henry Haskell – Husband of Katharine Wright
Bill Meixner – Historian, MacRobertson Air Race 1934
Marianne Dyson – Author, NASA Flight Controller
Jennifer Bean Bower – Author, Viola Gentry
Bill Meixner – Historian, History of Airmail
Marsha J. Wright – Daughter of WASP Margaret Ringenberg
Bill Meixner – Historian, Bomber Plant
Wendy Hollinger – Publisher, Jerrie Mock’s “Three-Eight Charlie”
Casey Grant – One of Delta’s First African-American Flight Attendants
Lt. Col. Becky Ohm – Ohio’s First Female Fighter Pilot
Bill Meixner – Historian, 1929 Air Race/Amelia Earhart
Julie Cummins – Author, “Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart"
Dan Zaleski – Historian, Blanche Noyes
Bill Meixner – Historian, Cleveland & Aviation
Bill Meixner – Historian, History of Cleveland Municipal Airport
Marcy Frumker – History of Female Astronauts and Cosmonauts
Richard DuRose – Author, “Shooting Star: The First Attempt By A Woman To Reach Hawaii By Air”
M.G. Crisci – Author, “Call Sign, White Lily”
Doug Kusak – Cleveland Metroparks, Great Lakes Exposition 1936-37
Mary Feik – First Female Presented the Master Mechanic Award, Pat Hange (2nd)
Jean-Vi Lenthe – Author, “Flying Into Yesterday: My Search for the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Engineering Cadettes”
