Major Event: Nights at the Mabee
One of the museum’s most successful programs of 2025 was “Nights at the Mabee”, a living-history event held throughout the Mabee Regional Heritage Center. The event brought together community members, current student-athletes, and local history enthusiasts through immersive experiences and interactive programming.
In the Flying Queens Museum:
• A local community member portrayed Harley Redin from the 1950s.
• Four current Flying Queens players rotated roles portraying both a 1950s player and a current player.
• Additional team members attended to engage with guests and speak about the program.
• A themed photobooth featured non-artifact jerseys and a basketball loaned by the Flying Queens team.
• A hands-on crafting activity allowed visitors to create their own “artifacts,” including handmade basketballs and jerseys inspired by the Flying Queens.
Attendance
Over 200 guests attended the event.
IMPACT: The event successfully connected the Flying Queens’ historic legacy with the experiences of today’s student-athletes, creating meaningful intergenerational engagement for visitors of all ages.
Collections & Cataloging
Flying Queens Artifacts Cataloged
• All Time: 2,283
• 2025: 493
• 2026 (to date): 109
IMPACT: The museum’s photographic archive is now nearly fully cataloged and rehoused according to archival standards, with completion anticipated later this year. Upon completion, efforts will shift toward processing and cataloging the museum’s historic newspaper collection.
Exhibitions & Gallery Updates
• October 2025 exhibit refresh installed approximately 100 new artifacts.
• Milestones such as the 1,800th win were added to the ribbon board.
• Ongoing updates recognize: Hall of Fame inductions, Special honors, and New All-Americans
• The current team screen has been updated to reflect the active roster.
IMPACT: The museum continues to play an active role in student-athlete recruitment. Prospective Flying Queens visiting campus are welcomed in the museum and recognized on the gallery ribbon board, reinforcing the program’s tradition of excellence and sense of belonging.
Research & Media Support
Curator Kasey Porr has assisted with archival requests for:
• Dace Martinez’s forthcoming book project
• Brenda VanLengen’s developing miniseries
IMPACT: These collaborations highlight the growing value of the museum’s collections as a resource for researchers, authors, filmmakers, and others documenting the history and impact of the Flying Queens.
Visitation Overview
Annual Visitation
• 2024: 3,906 visitors
• 2025: 4,908 visitors
• January–February 2026: 405 visitors
IMPACT: The museum recorded a 25.6% increase in visitation between 2024 and 2025, reflecting growing public awareness and engagement with Flying Queens history.
2026 Event vs. Daily Attendance
• Event Visitors: 63.9%
• Daily Visitors: 36.1%
IMPACT: Special events continue to serve as a primary driver of visitation, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all visitors during the first months of 2026.
2026 New vs. Returning Visitors
(Excluding large groups and events)
• New Visitors: 56.2%
• Returning Visitors: 43.8%
IMPACT: More than half of independent visitors are experiencing the museum for the first time, indicating continued success in attracting new audiences.
2026 Visitor Age Distribution
• 12 & Under: 20.1%
• 13–19: 10.7%
• 20–54: 44.3%
• 55 & Up: 24.8%
2025 Visitor Demographics
• 12 & Under: 13.7%
• 13–19: 14.5%
• 20–54: 52.8%
• 55 & Older: 19.1%
Gender
• Male: 46.8%
• Female: 53.2%
Ethnicity
• White or Caucasian: 65.6%
• Hispanic or Latino: 25.3%
• Black or African American: 7.1%
• Asian Pacific Islander: 0.6%
• Multiracial or Biracial: 0.3%
• Native American or Alaskan Native: 0.0%
• Prefer Not to Say: 1.3%
IMPACT: Visitor demographics reflect broad community appeal, with strong participation from working-age adults while maintaining meaningful engagement among youth and families.
Overall Assessment
The Flying Queens Museum continues to demonstrate growth and impact across all major areas of operation, including collections stewardship, public programming, visitation, and community engagement.
Key indicators of success include:
- Increased annual visitation
- Strong event-driven attendance
- Significant progress in cataloging and preserving collections
- Ongoing exhibition enhancements and gallery updates
- Growing collaboration with researchers, authors, and media professionals
- Continued support of Flying Queens recruitment and student-athlete engagement
The success of Nights at the Mabee illustrates the museum’s ability to bring history to life through immersive programming while strengthening connections between the Flying Queens’ celebrated past and its promising future.
As the museum moves through 2026, it is well-positioned to build on this momentum through expanded programming, continued collections development, and deeper engagement with both local and regional audiences.