Kites have been around for thousands of years. During that time they have been used for getting food, in military campaigns, for science, for transportation, and of course for fun. Every culture has had their own type of kites that they developed based on the materials that they had available and the needs that they had. Early materials included bamboo, silk, and paper. These were materials available in Asia so kiting probably there. Later materials included other wood and cotton fabrics. The newest materials include plastics (films and woven) and fiberglass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy rods.

Kites have many forms. There are flat, bowed, cellular, soft kites, and compound (a combination of 2 or more forms). Displayed in the atrium are cellular and compound kites from various kite makers including Chuck Holmes, H. B Alexander, and several other kite makers.