VIN FIZ EXHIBIT OPENS OCTOBER 15; TROPHIES ON DISPLAY

The Sherman Museum will present an exhibit entitled, " Fiz”, honoring early


Rodgers taking off on his epic journey

aviation in Grayson County. The exhibition opens October 15 and coincides with the World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) which started yesterday at North Texas Regional Airport. The WAC brings together the finest aerobatic pilots in the world for a two-week competition.

The exhibit celebrates the flight of the “Vin Fiz” by Calbraith Perry Rogers in 1911. Rogers became the first man to fly an aircraft above Grayson County when he visited the county during an attempt to cross the United States by air. Rogers’ effort was spurred by a $50,000 prize for the first person to make the transcontinental flight in 30 days or less. Rogers’ flight training consisted of 90 minutes of lessons from Orville Wright. His biplane, a Wright Brothers-built model EX, was named the “Vin Fiz,” after a soft drink made by Rogers’ sponsor, J. Ogden Armour. Rogers’ journey was marred by crashes and mechanical problems. By the time he reached Grayson County, the 30-day time limit on the prize had passed, but Rogers continued his flight anyway. In all, it took three months for Rogers to complete the flight.

The “Vin Fiz” exhibit includes a display of the trophies that are awarded to the WAC winners. “These trophies have been around the world; it’s a great honor to have them here in the museum,” said Executive Director Dan Steelman. The trophies are kept by the winning team for one year and subsequently brought back together at the World Aerobatic Championships
to be reissued annually.

The Sherman Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is: $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for seniors (Ages 60+); $2.00 for students (ages 6-18) and for those with a college ID; FREE for children 5 and under and FREE for museum members.

About The Sherman Museum
The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region. The museum was previously known as The Red River Historical Museum prior to a name change in March 2011.

For more information about The Sherman Museum, visit us on the web at www.theshermanmuseum.org.  For more information about the history of the Lake Texoma area, visit the Historical Sites page of www.texomaconnect.com.