Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum Helicopter Installation on Rooftop!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2026
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum
(540) 722-2020 Ext.110
taylorw@discoverymuseum.net

Winchester, VA: In continuation of its 30th Birthday Celebration, the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum (SVDM) is SOARING to new heights with the installation of a Bell 430 helicopter on its rooftop! The helicopter was craned onto the rooftop of the museum on Monday, September 21, 2026 during our Soar and Explore Block Party, cohosted by Friends of Old Town.

During the event, visitors enjoyed a photo booth and dance party by Summit Events, and various speakers including Winchester Mayor Les Veach, SVDM Executive Director
Dawn Devine, Valley Health CEO Mark Nantz, SVDM Director of Development Tammy Stevenson, and Winchester Regional Airport Executive Director Nick Sabo. Absolute Altitude captured the amazing drone footage and photographs of the event for SVDM.

This seemingly impossible project began 3 years ago with a vision from JJ Smith, local aviation enthusiast and SVDM friend, alongside Dawn Devine, SVDM Executive Director. He has supported SVDM and the Design Team with aviation advice and financial support. The Design Team comprised of Dawn Devine, Rory King, Jeff Mohn, Jason Marshall, JJ Smith, Nick Sabo, David Hubbard, Frank Sublett, Mike Ruddy and Chuck Swartz, met almost monthly to discuss the project for the past three years. Their planning made a vision turn into reality!

The acquisition of a non-operable helicopter was accomplished with the assistance of Don Ganske, who connected us with our amazing helicopter donor, San Juan Aviation. Our helicopter made a 2,800 mile journey from the company’s headquarter on San Juan Island in Washington state.

Over $300,000 has gone to support this one-of-a-kind exhibit and would not be possible without the generous donors who came together to fund this project. Our Premier Sponsor, Valley Health, was thrilled with the idea of inspiring young scientists, engineers and aviators, valuing education and working to infuse it into all aspects of our community. Additional financial supporters include JJ Smith, Tom Jordan (friend of SVDM), Bank of Clarke, and Julia Connell in honor of her grandson Easton Dorsey.

Our local community also worked together to achieve an almost-impossible timeline. The staff at the City of Winchester prioritized assisting SVDM with the necessary permitting. The bold eye-catching colors of the helicopter were made possible by Seth Fauver of Frederick County Customs and his team, by completing a year-long project in approximately 8 weeks! Bryan Quick of Fast Signs added the custom Valley Health logo wrap. Tom Jordan, SVDM Volunteer, aided with the exhibit’s execution. Howard Shockey & Sons Construction led by Project Superintendent Joe Oergel, and H & W’s Crane Rental collaborated to create magic and wonder for countless little eyes during the lift of the helicopter, inspiring a new generation of dreamers.

The helicopter exhibit and exterior rooftop area will open on October 23, 2026. Come discover the new exhibit then and climb into the pilot’s seat! In the meantime, if you’re visiting, look up as you walk down Cork Street to see our iconic lightbulb on the underside of the helicopter!

About SVDM: The SVDM is one of only seven children’s museums in the state of Virginia and 342 worldwide! We are a non-profit organization that through a rich variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits and educational programs, pursues its mission to spark curiosity and inspire learning through exploration and creative play. It is one of the centerpieces not only of the Winchester community, but also of the larger Shenandoah Valley. Since opening its doors in 1996, over a million visitors have enjoyed the Museum’s informal, fun, and play-filled learning environment. We have been at our current building since 2014, and it is comprised of fourteen primary exhibitions and a large array of educational programs with over 1,600 square feet of indoor exhibit space and an addition 400 square feet of rooftop space.

In 2025, SVDM had over 71,900 visitors and interacted with an additional 24,300 individuals at various community events, impacting over 100,000 people. SVDM hosts a variety of events including Free First Fridays, Sensory Friendly Nights, Art Club, Noon Year’s Eve, Winter Village, Summer Camps and an annual fundraising gala. Volunteers generously contributed 2,799 hours of their time, playing a vital role in helping the organization achieve its goal of enriching the children in our community. Early childhood education and youth support programs are crucial to the healthy growth of children, not only in knowledge gained, but in gross and fine motor skills development, cognitive learning, socialization, and creativity. The SVDM understands this need, strives to provide opportunities for ALL area children, both preschool and school aged, and believes that financial constraints should never keep a child from expanding their knowledge base, growing through learning and play, and having the opportunity to see a successful future.