WIRE Student Fellow Piper Hanson (History major, Creative and Cultural Industries minor) presenting her WIRE research at the Wilkinson College Faculty Retreat. Photo by Violet Gude (’29 Broadcast Journalism major).

This edition of From Our Eyes features Piper Hanson (‘26 History; Creative and Cultural Industries Minor), one of the 10 student fellows who participated in the 2026 Wilkinson Interterm Research Experience (WIRE). The program provides students with the training and real-world research experience necessary to thrive in academic settings. Hansen’s project set out to understand why and how aerospace museums glorify the technology they display.

Have you ever visited an aviation museum and been in awe of the technology on display? Or, have you ever wondered why we display that technology the way we do? As an emerging museum professional, I am always looking for opportunities to learn more about museums. When the opportunity arose to conduct research through the Wilkinson Interterm Research Experience (WIRE), I immediately proposed a project on museums.

During the program, I worked with Dr. Amy Buono (Art History) on my project titled “Progress Unhindered by Custom: The Glorification of Historic Aerospace Technology in National and Local Museums.” Drawing on my experience working in aviation museums, I sought to understand why and how aerospace museums glorify the technology they display.

This project definitely had its challenges. I initially sought to discuss technological object care on its own through evaluating conservation versus restoration decisions in aerospace museums. As I began my research, however, I realized that these methods of care are intertwined with the glorification of technology. I needed the context of these displays to understand how they are cared for, so my research topic shifted.

While researching, I focused on both local and national museums. My case studies compared two exhibitions of historic aircraft: the controversial exhibition of the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the flyable P-51 Mustang Bunny at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Both institutions offered different lenses for understanding how museums frame technological achievement. Comparing them revealed how each museum’s foundations, exhibition strategies, and mission shape the narratives they present. I found that understanding the concept of glorification enables museum professionals to better present the history of flight to museum visitors. The stories these objects tell are of war, and it’s important to show the full picture of deadly conflicts.

Beyond the research itself, WIRE shaped my professional development. Weekly workshops and team-building meetings helped me prepare to present my research, apply to graduate school, and publish my work, and to get to know my amazing fellow WIRE researchers! The community fostered by this program was my favorite part. I loved seeing everyone’s projects grow. Everyone was so passionate about their research, and it was an inspiration for my own.

(Pictured in header: (right) WIRE Student Fellow Piper Hanson (History major, Creative and Cultural Industries minor) with her faculty mentor Amy Buono (Art). Photo by Violet Gude (’29 Broadcast Journalism major).)