Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit Now Open: Celebrating Kokomo’s Ties to America’s Freedom Flyers
The traveling exhibition TUSKEGEE AIRMEN: America’s Freedom Flyers has landed in Kokomo, offering a powerful glimpse into the lives and legacy of the first African-American military aviators in U.S. history.
The exhibit, now on display at Artworks Gallery on Main Street, celebrates the 84-year legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen while shining a spotlight on Kokomo’s own “Hometown Heroes.”
Curated by Robin Williams from NOLAWorld Music and Artwerks, in partnership with national historians Zellie Orr and Craig Huntly, the exhibit features artifacts, photographs and stories that highlight the resilience and bravery of the Tuskegee Airmen. Highlights include a 2006 Congressional Medal awarded to Kokomo native Lt. Col. Bennett Hardy, a model plane by Bill Hence, photographs by John Slemp and more.
“This exhibit is about storytelling,” said Williams. “It’s an organic process of uncovering information. For example, Andrew Dunnegan was trained as an aircraft mechanic, but he did so much more. He came back home and worked for Button Motors. These stories bring the history to life.”
The exhibit’s journey began in 2015 in Atlanta, where it was originally planned as a six-month installation.
“Because it was so well-loved, it stayed for seven years,” Williams said. “When it came down, I called Zellie Orr and suggested creating a traveling exhibit that expanded on the Atlanta content. This is the result—a living, breathing celebration of hometown heroes wherever we go.”
In May 2024, during Military Appreciation Month, Williams collaborated with The Arts Federation and Howard County Memorial Corporation to bring nationally acclaimed muralist Malcolm Byers to Kokomo. Together, they unveiled a large-scale mural at 217 N. Main Street, honoring five Tuskegee Airmen from Howard County.
“The mural project was an addition to the exhibit,” Williams clarified. “It was a way to further connect the community to these incredible stories.”
The exhibit at Artworks Gallery runs from Jan. 19 through Feb. 22, offering free tours for community groups, schools and churches.
Educational activity packets are available for teachers, complete with coloring pages, puzzles and curriculum aligned with state and national standards.
“The civil rights piece is especially important for school kids who might not get all this information in school,” Williams said. “It helps them understand the challenges their parents and grandparents faced and the progress we’ve made.”
Williams emphasized that the exhibit’s impact extends beyond Black History Month.
“Black history is year-round,” she said. “This is a great time to spotlight these stories, but the lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen are timeless. They remind us of the diversity of the Tuskegee experience and its profound historical impact.”
Following its Kokomo run, the exhibit will travel to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in St. Louis, where it will open on Juneteenth 2025 with an expanded “Hometown Heroes” section.
Artworks Gallery, located at 210 N. Main St., Kokomo, is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Additional tour times may be arranged by email or phone at 317-213-5278 or curator@nolaworld.org.