Snoopy Flies in for a Visit at Pearson Air Museum from May 16 through June 19

(Vancouver, Washington—May 6, 2009) –Pearson Air Museum is hosting the traveling art exhibit Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace from May 16 through June 19. This exhibit from the Charles M. Schulz Museum celebrates more than forty years of Charlie Brown’s eccentric beagle’s flights of fancy. A Snoopy kick-off party on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. features free root beer, the Flying Ace’s favorite beverage; an interpreter discussing Germany’s Red Baron and his Fokker DR-1 tri-plane; Portland cartoonist Shannon Wheeler whose work includes Dark Horse comics as well as The New Yorker teaching a family-friendly cartooning workshop; and other fun Snoopy-related activities.

This exhibit presents Charles M. Schulz's lovable beagle, Snoopy, as his alter ego, the Flying Ace. Visitors can follow Snoopy on his imaginary adventures--including sparring with the Flying Ace's archenemy, the Red Baron, while flying in his doghouse, transformed into a Sopwith Camel airplane. Forty digital prints from the original Peanuts comic strip drawings by Schulz will be on display, along with accompanying photographs of the artist. Pearson Air Museum also has on display a reproduction World War I-era Fokker DR-1 tri-plane, the same type of plane flown by Germany's Red Baron.

Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace is toured by ExhibitsUSA, the national touring division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pearson Air Museum is located at 1115 East Fifth Street in Vancouver on the Fort Vancouver National Site. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, active military and students ages 6-17 and free for children under age 6. A family admission for two adults and up to four students is $22. For details check the Pearson Air Museum Web site at www.pearsonairmuseum.org or call the air museum at 360-694-7026. Managed by the Fort Vancouver National Trust, Pearson Air Museum tells the story of Pearson Field, the oldest continuously operating active airfield in the U.S.