MONTEREY, CA. (March 3, 2023) — Monterey Regional Airport celebrates Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) from March 6 to 12, 2023 by showcasing one of its two permanent exhibits: “Pioneering Women of Monterey County.”

This is an exhibit that scratches the surface in presenting a glimpse of the many prominent women who have contributed to Monterey County’s rich history. Their stories will inspire today’s women in pursuing their dreams and goals.

The exhibit is made up of panels of women’s bios and pictures, all deceased, who over two centuries surmounted various obstacles and made big contributions to the life and culture of Monterey County. They included women like Anne Hadden, the first librarian for Monterey County, who famously delivered books by riding a mule through wilds of the county. And painter E. Charlton Fortune, who initialized her first name, Euphemia, to escape gender discrimination.

Permanent Exhibit Spotlights:

• Julia Platt, who was a brilliant academic in marine biology, but could not get a job in academia.  She became quite the political activist in Pacific Grove and became its first female mayor.
• Mae Johnson, a longtime local educator and community champion who died in 2015 at age 82.
• Perfecta Garcia Encinales, a Salinan Indian whose basketry is now preserved at UC Berkeley.

The Airport’s other permanent exhibit, “Aviation Legends,” tells the stories of the amazing accomplishments of two military heroes, General James H. Doolittle, USAF, and Captain Roy Marlin Voris, USN. Both men called Monterey hope.

So, whether you are an art teacher, avid art collector, history buff, or just one who appreciates learning something new about where you live or where you are visiting, we hope that this background perspective of Art at the Airport, and images of exhibits from times gone by, will give you something to think about. We celebrate these exhibits by recognizing how it is that public art happens and the very special collaboration between the owners of public spaces, artists, art collectors and donors. Next time you visit Monterey Regional Airport, we hope that these exhibits are unexpected pleasures that make your travel experience more memorable.

Monterey Regional Airport
Address: 200 Fred Kane Drive, Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 648-7000
Airport code: MRY
Website: montereyairport.com

###