News & Announcements

The Peninsula Postal Stamp Club of Long Beach, WA is in the process of creating an exhibit of kite stamps from countries around the world. In 2009 the group artistically prepared three 34” X 26” frames of Chinese kite stamps to accompany a new Chinese Kite Celebration at that time. This time, besides using the Museum’s stamps, the group has researched and obtained more varied stamps to extend the total collection. This exhibit will be one of a kind. Keep your eyes open for this unique event and tell your friends.

Before 1915 if you had a kite either you or someone else made it.

This exhibit describes one of the first kite manufacturers, John Frier, Sr. His Company named ALOX rolled off their self-created assembly line kites in 1927.

The Museum, with the assistance of Frier’s granddaughter, Nancy Frier, has created the story of how this industry functioned and survived until 1989.

It includes the dime store and variety store outlets, the shift from paper to plastic, the inclusion of what were called promotion kites, and other necessities to prosper.

Dime Store Signage

Dime Store Kites This exhibit of paper and plastic kites from the 1920s to the 1960s introduces visitors to kites and kite manufacturers of that era.

It includes 3-stick kites, paper diamonds, and box kites; some decorated with old favorites like the Man in the Moon, Jolly Roger, cowboys, etc. Many others of that era advertise products.

Another part of the exhibit collects stories of visitors kite adventures Five unique Peninsula kite stories and a map so visitors can see where they took place is available to everyone.

Dime Store Kites

Eye Witness to Disaster and Triumph Explains the significance of the famous George Lawrence’s spectacular kite aerial photographs of the April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The pictures of the disaster and the remarkable rebuild two years later were taken with a specially built fifty-pound camera.