Looking Through the Past

Looking Through the Past

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Looking Through the Past
Looking Through the Past
The Brief But Spectacular Era of Balloon Mania

The Brief But Spectacular Era of Balloon Mania

Inside the 18th century obsession with hot air ballooning

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George Dillard
Aug 12, 2023
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Looking Through the Past
Looking Through the Past
The Brief But Spectacular Era of Balloon Mania
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Unless you’re a dedicated balloon hobbyist, your experience with hot-air ballooning is probably pretty limited. Maybe you’ve been to one of those festivals where you look at lots of balloons in the air, or maybe you’ve been up in one yourself once or twice. For most of us, balloons seem like a whimsical hobby, romantic and picturesque.

A few hundred year…

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