Taking a Whirl Through Fans’ Past
Look what blew into Kansas: the Museum of the American Fan Collectors Assn. Yes, the home of Wizard of Oz-force winds--and some pretty hot summers--is home to more than 350 antique and modern fans lent by, well, fans, and displayed in the lobby of Vornado Air Circulation Systems Inc. in Wichita. Breathless museum boosters claim that “the fan is like the wheel--a milestone in the development of humanity.”
Among the exhibits are the first modern electric fan, invented in 1886; Thomas Edison’s battery-operated fan; and fans powered by alcohol and by water. The designs range from Victorian to Art Deco to contemporary. Fan history and restoration, electric motors and profiles of fan designers also are featured.
The museum, at 415 E. 13th St., is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free. Information: telephone (316) 733-0035.
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