Cradle of Aviation to Unveil Sally Ride Sculpture

Reach for stars! The Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, will celebrate the late American astronaut, Sally Ride, Ph.D., with a new sculpture made in her honor. 

The community is invited to the sculpture's unveiling on Friday, June 17, at 11am, in front of the museum. Titled “The First American Woman in Space,” the monument depicts Ride in her space shuttle in-flight suit and will add a dramatic and history-filled accent to the museum's grounds. It will welcome visitors in front of the museum and feature an engraving that honors the space icon. 

The new sculpture coincides with the recent launch of the Sally Ride quarter by the U.S. Mint. This is the second release from the U.S. Mint's four-year series of American women quarters.  

About Sally Ride 

Ride was an astronaut and physicist. In 1977, she saw an ad in her school newspaper encouraging women to apply to NASA's space program. She applied and was one of six women picked. She joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman in space. She flew two missions on the space shuttle Challenger before leaving NASA to become a physics professor and a champion for improving science education. 

We are honored to have this sculpture – depicting the first American woman in space, in the museum’s permanent collection,” Andy Parton, president of the museum, said. 

About the Sally Ride Sculpture 

The 7-foot-tall gold and bronze statue was created by Colorado-based sculptors and brothers George and Mark Lundeen, working with fellow artist, Joey Bainer. A gift to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, the project’s title sponsors are the Matson Family Foundation, Peter Diamandis on behalf of the XPRIZE Foundation and Maria Shriver. 

The sculpture was made possible by documentary filmmaker, Steven C. Barber.