The Hampton Roads Naval Museum contains a detailed model of the USS Parke Custis. The balloon boat was used by Union forces for the first time on November 11, 1861, when Thaddeus Lowe conducted an aerial observation of Confederate positions from the vessel. This observation paved the way for the US Navy’s present use of air and an element of sea power. The model in the museum’s gallery was built by Floyd Hudson, and was presented to the Truxton-Decatur Museum in 1961. The model was eventually presented to the museum

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Size: 1734px × 1153px
Photo credit: © David Wa / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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