St. Louis Takes to the Air: Aviation History

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Program Description

Event Details

Discover information on historical people, places, or things. 

Aviation has a long history in St. Louis.

In 1910 President Theodore Roosevelt came to an airport in St. Louis because he wanted to be the first President to fly in an airplane. We started manufacturing new-fangled flying machines in 1911. A 1920 hangar now is home to horses. St. Louis has been involved with balloon flights, a dirigible harbor, air taxis, military aircraft, escadrilles, flying saucers, parachuters, and commercial aircraft. We have aviation museums, guided missile sites, and the room where Charles Lindbergh was given the money for the Spirit of St. Louis.

Doug Schneider will show how aviation has shaped St. Louis - and how St. Louis has taken to the air and shaped aviation.

black and white image of a historic plane

Recommended reading from the Library: Aviation in St. Louis

The presenter is Doug Schneider, author, St. Louis walking tour guide, Scottish country dancer, fan of architecture, Route 66 enthusiast, who graduated from Brown University, one of the eight Ivy League universities, with a Bachelor's in History; and from the University of London with a Master's in Linguistics.

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