The Washington State History Museum is taking a step back in time to study one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries: the 1971 disappearance of skyjacker D.B. Cooper from a plane traveling from Portland to Sea-Tac.

A grand opening public event of the Cooper exhibit will take place Aug. 24. The celebration will include behind-the-scenes tours throughout the morning; at 11 a.m., Gary Young, a parachute expert and professional stuntman, will demonstrate what it's like to jump out of a Boeing 727 at night - and survive, and at 2 p.m., Citizen Sleuth investigator Tom Kaye will present his notorious search for Cooper.

"As the nation's only unsolved skyjacking, the Cooper case completely changed the course of aviation history and passenger safety in America," said Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society. "We know how important these themes are to the military community, and the evolution of security is something that's well-reflected throughout the exhibit."

The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 5, 2014, will wow visitors with an ongoing educational series about forensic science and history mysteries, interactive shows with a professional Cooper impersonator and will soon include dates for a symposium with Geoffrey Gray, bestselling-author of Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper.

"COOPER," 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $7-$9.50, free for military and ages 5 and younger, 888.238.4373

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