Charles M. Schulz Museum
  • Charles M. Schulz
    • Charles M. Schulz Centennial Celebration
    • Cartoonist Tributes for #Schulz100
    • Charles M. Schulz Biography
    • Timeline
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Visit
      • Plan Your Visit

        • Hours & Admission
        • Directions & Transportation
        • Visit the Schulz Campus
        • Accessibility
        • Museum Map
        • Family Guide
      • Programs & Events

        • Calendar of Events
        • Theater Schedule
        • Museum Mondays
        • Homeschool and Girl Scout Days
      • Adult Group Tours

        • Group Tour Reservations
        • Basic Schulz Museum Tour
        • A Day-In-The-Life Tour
        • Research Center Tour
        • Museum Director Tour
        • ASL Interpreted Tour
        • Tactile and Descriptive Tour
      • Education

        • Classes & Camps
        • Online School Programs
        • Field Trips
        • Classroom Outreach
        • Peanuts Naturally Festivals
        • Fee Assistance
        • At Home Activities
  • Explore
      • Exhibitions

        • Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
        • Permanent Exhibitions
        • Traveling Exhibitions
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Snoopy Museum Tokyo
      • The Collection

        • Collection Highlights
        • Digital Collection
        • FAQs About the Collection
      • About Us

        • The Museum
        • Board of Directors
        • Contact Us
        • Press Room
        • Jean Schulz’s Blog
      • Research Center

        • Research Services &
          Reproduction Fees
        • Bibliography
        • Finding Aids
  • Get Involved
      • Membership

        • Join/Renew/Gift
        • Corporate Membership
        • Corporate Friends
      • Ways to Give

        • Donate
        • Commemorative Gifts
        • Past Gift Participants
      • Volunteer

        • Adult Volunteer Application
        • Student Volunteer Application
      • Corporate Support

        • Corporate Sponsors
        • Corporate Friends
  • Shop
  • Online
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Calendar

SATRB-Exhibition-Page

Snoopy and the Red Baron

October 24, 2015 to April 24, 2016
Downstairs Changing Gallery

Snoopy first imagined himself as a World War I flying ace on October 10, 1965, making 2015 the 50th anniversary of this popular persona. When asked about the origins of Snoopy’s aviator role, Charles Schulz credited his son Monte’s interest in making plastic airplane models as his chief inspiration. Schulz described drawing a little helmet on Snoopy after seeing Monte’s World War I aircraft models, and “suddenly got the idea for it.” He also cited 1960s events that commemorated the start of World War I, and movies such as The Dawn Patrol. He immediately recognized the potential of the Flying Ace, acknowledging, “I knew I had one of the best things I had thought of in a long time.”

Throughout the decades, Snoopy comically embraced his fighter pilot role for delighted Peanuts readers. As Snoopy envisioned himself soaring through the clouds in pursuit of his nemesis, the infamous Red Baron, he sat atop his doghouse, which he imagined to be a real British biplane known as a Sopwith Camel (Schulz once said, “Can you think of a funnier name for an airplane?”). He wandered through parts of Europe that World War I aviators genuinely traversed, stopping in cafés to quaff root beers and flirt with French lasses. In everything he cartooned, Schulz strove for authenticity, a point made especially clear by his Flying Ace storylines.

Beyond the comic strip, Snoopy as the Flying Ace prompted the manufacture of countless memorabilia items, including toys, games, music boxes, and even a root beer float-making kit. Fans dressed up their dogs in flying caps and goggles, and Air Force squadrons adopted Snoopy as a symbol of their patriotism.

This most famous of all Snoopy’s personas continues to bring humor and nostalgic joy to Peanuts fans all over the world. “I don’t think there has been an animal character in a long time that has done the different things that Snoopy has done,” Schulz once reflected. “He’s an attorney. He’s a surgeon. He’s the World War I Flying Ace.”

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios,
creators of The Peanuts Movie, which opens November 6 in theaters everywhere.

20th-Century-LR500

BLUE-SKY-LOGO-LR

Random image

Museum Hours

Weekdays 11:00 am–5:00 pm (Closed Tuesdays)*
*Open Tuesday, December 27

Weekends 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Email Sign-Up

  • Facebook Icon
  • Instagram Icon
  • Twitter Icon
  • Youtube Icon
DONATE NOW

Location

2301 Hardies Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

GET DIRECTIONS

(707) 579-4452

  • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • About
  • Jean Schulz’s Blog
  • Shop
© 2023 Charles M. Schulz Museum | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
PEANUTS © Peanuts Worldwide LLC | Website by Inbound Design
Scroll to top
We use cookies to optimize performance. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
See privacy policy. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT