The Wind Beneath Their Wings: The Story of the World Kite Museum

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Back in the mid-1980s, a passionate group of kite enthusiasts began to float around an exciting idea—what if there was a museum entirely dedicated to the art, history, and joy of kites and the people who fly them? This idea captured the hearts and minds of many fliers and they went into action. They explored everything from gaining nonprofit status to museum archival options and dreamed up a space where the public could learn about kite heritage and admire stunning kite displays.

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Then came a lucky wind in their sails: 1989 marked Washington State’s centennial, sparking a statewide movement to support museums and historic preservation. The aspiring museum board jumped at the opportunity, and attended state-offered workshops that covered everything from writing mission statements and accessioning artifacts to running gift shops and obtaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. They were all-in.

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That same year, David Checkley’s widow made an extraordinary donation—his personal collection of 700 traditional kites from Japan, China, and Malaysia. Among them, 300 Japanese kites formed what is now considered the most comprehensive collection of its kind outside Japan. This gift laid the foundation for what would become a truly international museum.

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The Museum’s very first exhibit, “The History of Kites in Washington State,” debuted during the 1989 Washington State International Kite Festival. Housed in the Long Beach City Council chambers, the week-long display was a hit. Adding to the excitement, renowned Japanese kite maker Eiji Ohashi visited and, with the help of volunteers, brought kite-making supplies to every child at Long Beach Elementary—each one crafted a flyable Japanese kite by hand. Just like that, the World Kite Museum had officially launched: one exhibit, one beach display, and one unforgettable school project.

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The growing enthusiasm called for a permanent home. Jim Buesing, a key member of the founding team, approached the City of Long Beach with a creative proposal: turn the Coulter home—part of a newly acquired block of beach cottages—into a museum. The city agreed, and from 1990 to 2004, that humble house became the beating heart of the World Kite Museum and was headed by Kay Buesing, a beloved local teacher and wife to Jim Buesing.

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By August 1990, Buesing and the team had transformed the old residence into a four-room gallery. The kitchen doubled as a gift shop and admission desk, while the bathroom was reborn as a tech and storage hub. Kites not on display were tucked away in the laundry room. One exhibit room was lovingly dubbed the “Long Beach Room,” a nostalgic space for kite festival regulars. Admission even included a hands-on kite-making activity, a tradition that continues today.

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Over the next 14 years, the museum became deeply rooted in the community. It hosted adult workshops at the local Long Beach elementary gym, brought international cultural experiences into classrooms, and collaborated with local businesses and clubs. Programs like traveling exhibits, live demonstrations, quarterly newsletters, and membership drives added more lift to the museum’s momentum. As they squeezed through narrow hallways and small rooms, volunteers and staff formed lasting friendships built on a shared love of kites and culture.

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Eventually, the museum outgrew its cozy abode. In late 2004, the team spotted a two-story, 10,360-square-foot building on Sid Snyder Drive. By November 2005, they made it their own. The new space offered over 6,000 square feet for exhibits, workshops, research archives, and offices—finally giving the collection room to breathe (and grow).

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The late 1990s brought another major windfall when the American Kite Association merged its archives with the museum’s. This partnership helped establish the World Kite Museum as the world’s foremost resource for kite research. Today, everyone from textbook publishers to freelance writers taps into its treasure trove of photos, papers, and ephemera.

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Now proudly housed in its grander building, the World Kite Museum continues to soar. It celebrates kite culture across continents, educates visitors of all ages, and preserves the vibrant history of kiting—one kite, one flyer, one story at a time.