Category Archives: aviation history

How the United States Coast Guard Got its Wings

The United States Coast Guard has been in operation since August 4, 1790.  At the request of Alexander Hamilton, the Revenue-Marine was created with a purpose of collecting customs duties at U.S. seaports. In 1915, the service became the Coast … Continue reading

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Aloha Wanderwell – A Well-Wandered Woman

To commemorate March as Women’s History Month, the AHC would like to feature the life of adventurer Idris Galcia Hall (1906-1996) who christened herself “Aloha Wanderwell.” In 1922 at age 16, she answered an ad calling for “a good-looking brainy … Continue reading

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Marguerite Shepherd: Assistant to “Ace of Aces” Eddie Rickenbacker

Marguerite “Sheppy” Shepherd (1894-1983) was the longtime personal assistant to ‘Ace of Aces’ Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973), a World War I fighter pilot, race car driver, automotive designer, government consultant in military matters, air transport pioneer, and longtime head of Eastern Air … Continue reading

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Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher Leads at World War II’s Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway occurred June 3 to June 7, 1942 – six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of Japan’s main goals during World War II was to remove the United States as a Pacific Power in … Continue reading

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When Lions Fly

It’s a familiar sight – a roaring lion’s head in a golden frame. We see this iconic image at the beginning of our favorite films, TV shows, and cartoons, but the history behind this logo is little known. MGM’s Leo … Continue reading

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Rockwell Polar Flight

On November 14, 1965, the Rockwell Polar Flight began what has often been described as the last of the great firsts in polar travel. It was the first round-the-world flight to pass over both the North and South Pole, establishing … Continue reading

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Seat Pocket Pioneer: The Rose A. Benas Collection

When you travel by airplane, do you enjoy the reading material stored in the seat pocket in front of you?  Your in-flight reading material that highlights tropical hotels and regional cuisine might just help you through those long minutes on … Continue reading

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Sports, Recreation, and Leisure

Sports, recreation, and leisure are so entwined with life in American and the human experience itself, it should not be surprising that many of the collections held at the American Heritage Center contain at least some information related to these … Continue reading

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History in Flight at the American Heritage Center

On this day in 1927 Charles Lindbergh landed his plane in Paris and gained instant fame for being the first to fly across the Atlantic solo.  In honor of this day in aviation history the American Heritage Center is excited … Continue reading

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Eugene Vidal: Aviator, Olympic Athlete, High-flying Advisor

Eugene Luther Vidal (1895-1969) was a man of many accomplishments. An engineer as well as an athlete, he graduated from the University of South Dakota and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  As a student he played on the … Continue reading

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