Autry National Center
SkydreamersAs in this 1871 photo of a balloon ascending over Ferndale, Calif., some of the earliest attempts to conquer space were in free-floating, hot-air balloons. Next came heavier than air machines and, ultimately, rocket ships that can elude gravity and soar into space. Lucky for us, photographers and artists were often on hand to document and imagine these journeys.
This photo and those that follow are from the “Skydreamers” exhibition on view at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles through Sept. 4, 2011. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the collection of Stephen White. |