The quest to go higher, faster, and farther during the first halfcentury of aviation. Hi, im jeremy kinney. Were going to go through a tour of some artifacts that really stand out in terms of this story of higher, faster, and farther in the history of aviation. But first i want to talk about the air and space museum overall. The air and space museum has over 8 million visitors a year between the National Mall building and the stephen f. Udvarhazy center. Were looking at over 500 aircraft and helicopters. Of those aircraft, about 67 are on display on the National Mall building. So, what supports these artifacts is up to 60,000 individual small and medium artifacts. But what were going to talk about today is the story of higher, faster, and farther, which is scene sooen as a cliche in many ways throughout the history of aviation but actually has a real meaning to it, in which we look at the people who made this quest of flying in the third dimension a reality. And so, the idea of flying
Museum in london. The lost world of James Smithson was her first book and she resides in new york. Please welcome heather ewing. [applause] heather thanks for having me. Can you all hear me . Wonderful. It is really a pleasure to be here. I very much look forward to speaking and meeting with you all afterwards. I just wanted to let you know i will be bowing to you and not shaking hands per our current instructions. I encourage you all to do the same. Anyway, i wanted to thank you all very much for having me. It is a pleasure to be here to talk about this topic that i care about so much. And so, here we go. You all know the smithsonian well as the keeper of many of the most iconic objects of american culture. And, i thought i would run through a bunch of them. Dorothys ruby slippers, of course. Charles lindberghs spirit of st. Louis. Abraham lincolns top hat. Since we are here in baltimore, this is the starspangled banner. Soon after it came to the smithsonian where it was conserved for
Became the highlight of the century. We will be looking at this story of the higher, and faster and farther of aviation, but first i want to talk about the Aerospace Museum overall. It has over 8 million visitors a year between the National Mall building, and so looking at the story of the atmosphere that i am working in, we are looking at 500 aircraft and helicopters. Of those aircraft. 67 are on display in the National Mall building and what is supporting the artifacts is 67,000 small and medium artifacts, but what we will talk about today is the story of higher, faster and farther which is seen as a cliche throughout the history of aviation, but it has a real meaning to it. And in which we look at the people who made the quest of flying in the third dimension a reality. And so, the idea of flying the highest altitude and the fastest speed and the longest distances tells us a lot about the Technical Development of the airplane, and also the invention of the Wright Brothers and what t
Really understands. Its a great combination of things. This is the fourth position secretary bunch has had at the smithsonian. Something i dont believe any of your predecessors could claim in 1978 secretary bunch began his smithsonian career at the national air and space museum as an Education Specialist 11 years later he joined the National Museum of American History. He most recently served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American history and culture. As the founding director he led an 11 year effort in constructing the 400,000 squarefoot museum and helping raise the matching publicprivate private funds that match public funds and came up with the museum that tells an incredibly powerful story of that part of our history. And a lot of our history. Congress established the smithsonian in 1846 through uppercrust by a british scientist James Smithson who never visited the United States but he generously left his estate to the United States government to found
Institution testified on Museum Programs and operations. Before the senate rules and administration committee. Secretary bunch outlined his priorities for the institution and efforts to reduce the maintenance backlog. Committee on rules and administration will be called to order. Good morning. I want to thank my colleagues for attending, and before i get any further, thank secretary bunch for bringing some of their great collection for us to look at. But mr. Secretary, were glad to have you, and several people from your team here to back you up if you need it. But im confident youll be able to be the man at the microphone there. This is your First Official appearance before the senate rules committee. Were grateful to have you with us. Secretary bunchs appointment is historic in a number of ways. Hes the first African American secretary to lead the Smithsonian Institution as well as the first Museum Director who was then later appointed secretary in at least in around 75 years. Hes a h