Historic Wendover Airfield receives $450,000 grant to stabilize a hangar that housed the Enola Gay.

Historic Wendover Airfield is proud to announce that one of the 40 “Save America’s Treasures” grants was awarded to help begin restoration of the B-29 hangar built for the 509th Composite Group. This group trained in Wendover, Utah for the dropping of the atomic bombs which ended the Second World War. The hangar, often referred to as the “Enola Gay” hangar, is only one still standing built specifically for this significant group.

The award of $450,000.00 dollars will be used to re-roof the metal hangar portion, the north and south operations offices and shops, and provide siding and windows for the building. James Petersen, President of the Historic Airfield Foundation, said this grant is a critical step in preserving an important part of not only Utah, but National history. In an article written before his death, retired General Paul Tibbetts referred to Wendover as, “The Training Camp for the Atomic Age”.

The Federal Save America’s Treasures program is one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation’s endangered and irreplaceable and endangered cultural heritage. Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects.

For more information please contact Thomas Petersen at 801/634-8763.

“Utah-Seems that regardless of what we search for, were almost always rewarded with a high-ranking response from one state: Utah. Mineral-rich, water-deficient, land-locked geography aside, someone in the state seemed to get his or her hands in just about every sort of historical moment (even a search for the Civil War gets a return from http://www.historytogo.utah.gov: a story about the territorys governor departing to fight with the Confederate army). Credit the states western migration path, the transcontinental railroad, heavy U.S. government involvement in obtaining statehood, or those mineral-created boom towns for the diversity. Also credit a great Web presence. The states website regularly sits at or near the top of the Center for Digital Governments annual best-of rankings.” Ancestry magazine website
Thales Directory

People Pond is rad http://www.peoplepond.com/paulewing

Check it out!

https://secure.peoplepond.com/paulewing

I’m also on twitter here

http://twitter.com/paulewingutah

And for my bit of Utah adventure, check this out:

New Church History Library Open to the Public

The new Latter-day Saint (LDS) Church History Library will open its doors to the public on June 22, 2009. Journals, diaries, manuscripts, photographs, and books are among the many precious records stored at the library.

A stand-alone building located at the northeast of Temple Square, the new library allows the public greater access to the LDS Church’s historical records than ever before. “This will be the first time that the Church’s historical library will have a public face,” said Church History Department managing director Steven Olsen. Previously, the Church’s historical records were housed in the LDS Church Office Building. Records were only accessible when the Church Office Building was open.

The new library uses state-of-the-art technology to create a more inviting atmosphere for patrons. Wireless connections are available throughout the building. Also, the building was designed to meet rigorous “green” standards according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. Natural lighting and improved air quality are some of the side benefits for patrons and employees.

Just as importantly, the new library is much better equipped to preserve records. The old location did not have fire protection, seismic protection, or proper temperature and humidity controls. The new building solves these problems. Ten new main storage rooms are kept at 55 degrees Fahrenheit with 35 percent humidity. Two additional storage rooms, which contain color motion picture films and photographs, are kept at minus four degrees Fahrenheit.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulewingutah

Hope to hear from you!

Back to the Paul Ewing homepage I’m going to talk more about my adventures in Utah, you bet http://paulewingutah.wordpress.com/

An interesting article I came across.

American Indian Folk Art on Display

Exquisite folk art made by members of Utah’s tribes will be on display at the Rio Grande Depot from August 13 until September 18, 2009. Each item was made by a contemporary Utah artist using traditional skills. The exhibit, The Living Art of Utah’s American Indian Tribes: We Shall Remain, is curated from the State Folk Arts Collection and the Ken Williams Jr. Collection.

It includes Ute Mountain Ute ceremonial baskets; Goshute utilitarian baskets; story baskets made by Navajos; Shoshone, Paiute, and Northern Ute beadwork; musical instruments and dancing regalia; baby carriers; jewelry and attire; and a display of miniature objects.

Carol Edison, Folk Arts Program manager, notes that the artists have evolved and adapted their traditions. “Some of the pieces in the exhibit are more traditional, while others incorporate contemporary motifs,” she says. “The artists use locally available materials—like willow, wood, and brain-tanned buckskin—but they also work with modern materials, like beads and commercial dyes.”

State History is hosting The Living Art of Utah’s American Indian Tribes in conjunction with its annual conference, Celebrating Utah’s American Indian Culture: We Shall Remain, to be held September 17-19.