In Indianola, Iowa, the National Balloon Museum preserves the history of hot air and gas ballooning and grew from the city’s long connection to competitive ballooning. Founded in 1975 and housed since 1988 in a building shaped like a balloon gondola, it developed after successful championship events in 1970 created demand for a permanent, year-round collection. Its holdings, drawn from the Balloon Federation of America, cover more than 200 years of ballooning history and include the first hot air balloon to cross the English Channel. The museum also contains the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame and has remained a significant center for ballooning history despite a destructive 2024 fire.