One of Thaddeus Lowe’s aerial reconnaissance balloons in a field during the Battle of Fair Oaks, 31 May and 1 June 1862. Photo courtesy the Smithsonian Institution.

As I type, a huge balloon is being inflated on the National Mall. Has a challenge for a hot air balloon race around the world been issued? Sadly, no. But the real reason is pretty interesting, in its own way.

The National Air and Space Museum is currently celebrating a piece of aerospace history — in 1861, at the start of the Civil War, aeronaut Thaddeus Lowe received support from the Smithsonian to inflate a balloon on the grounds of the National Mall in order to demonstrate to President Abraham Lincoln the potential for balloons to be used for military reconnaissance. Lowe sent balloons skyward in front of what is now the Smithsonian Castle, and his work basically led to Americans using the skies to glean information during battle.

This morning, a group of historical recreationists are replaying Lowe’s launch — there’s even a Lincoln impersonator on hand.

Check out the video below for more information on Lowe’s balloons from Tom Crouch, Senior Curator of Aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum: