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- Airplane Flying over Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931 - Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).

- 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Airplane Flying over Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931
Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).
- Edsel Ford, P.E. Martin, and Charles Sorensen Breaking Ground at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, September 17, 1940 - Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford joined production managers P.E. Martin and Charles Sorensen in a September 1940 groundbreaking ceremony for the company's Willow Run bomber plant, 35 miles west of Detroit. When finished, the complex employed more than 42,000 people and included more than seven million square feet of floor space. Workers there built one B-24 bomber every 63 minutes.

- September 17, 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Edsel Ford, P.E. Martin, and Charles Sorensen Breaking Ground at Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, September 17, 1940
Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford joined production managers P.E. Martin and Charles Sorensen in a September 1940 groundbreaking ceremony for the company's Willow Run bomber plant, 35 miles west of Detroit. When finished, the complex employed more than 42,000 people and included more than seven million square feet of floor space. Workers there built one B-24 bomber every 63 minutes.
- Engine Designed by Glenn Curtiss for the Aerial Experiment Association's "Silver Dart" Airplane, 1908-1909 - In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell recruited a team of young aviation enthusiasts for his elite Aerial Experiment Association (AEA). The group produced a string of airplanes that ultimately achieved manned flight and contributed key developments to the fledgling field of aviation. AEA "motor expert" Glenn Curtiss designed this water-cooled engine to prevent overheating and allow for longer flights.

- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Engine Designed by Glenn Curtiss for the Aerial Experiment Association's "Silver Dart" Airplane, 1908-1909
In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell recruited a team of young aviation enthusiasts for his elite Aerial Experiment Association (AEA). The group produced a string of airplanes that ultimately achieved manned flight and contributed key developments to the fledgling field of aviation. AEA "motor expert" Glenn Curtiss designed this water-cooled engine to prevent overheating and allow for longer flights.
- Commemorative Plate, Featuring Glenn Curtiss, circa 1910 - Glenn Curtiss pioneered aileron control systems and designed some of the first successful seaplanes. He formed an exhibition flying team, and he set several flight records of his own. Starting in 1909, Curtiss was involved in a bitter patent dispute with the Wright brothers. It wasn't resolved until 1917, when World War I forced the creation of a patent pool.

- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Commemorative Plate, Featuring Glenn Curtiss, circa 1910
Glenn Curtiss pioneered aileron control systems and designed some of the first successful seaplanes. He formed an exhibition flying team, and he set several flight records of his own. Starting in 1909, Curtiss was involved in a bitter patent dispute with the Wright brothers. It wasn't resolved until 1917, when World War I forced the creation of a patent pool.
- The Aviation Country Club of Detroit Trophy Race at the National Air Races, St. Louis, Missouri, October 6, 1923 - Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1923 event took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where pilot Al Williams won with a speed of 243.67 mph.

- October 06, 1923
- Collections - Artifact
The Aviation Country Club of Detroit Trophy Race at the National Air Races, St. Louis, Missouri, October 6, 1923
Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1923 event took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where pilot Al Williams won with a speed of 243.67 mph.
- Pacemaker "59" Engine, 1946-1947 - Tether cars, gas-powered model race cars, were popular in the 1930s and 1940s. They were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down board track. This Pacemaker "59" race engine was produced by Pacemaker Engines of New York, New York. "59" refers to its displacement of .594 cubic inches.

- 1946-1947
- Collections - Artifact
Pacemaker "59" Engine, 1946-1947
Tether cars, gas-powered model race cars, were popular in the 1930s and 1940s. They were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down board track. This Pacemaker "59" race engine was produced by Pacemaker Engines of New York, New York. "59" refers to its displacement of .594 cubic inches.
- Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.

- September 27, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.
- Wire Photograph, Peace Corps Volunteers at San Francisco International Airport, "Bound for Philippines," 1961 - President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, by the end of the year, many Peace Corps volunteers had been trained and placed in overseas assignments. Here, a group leaves for the Philippines to serve as teachers' aides in country villages.

- October 12, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Wire Photograph, Peace Corps Volunteers at San Francisco International Airport, "Bound for Philippines," 1961
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, by the end of the year, many Peace Corps volunteers had been trained and placed in overseas assignments. Here, a group leaves for the Philippines to serve as teachers' aides in country villages.
- Detroit News--Airplane--Lockheed Orion--James V. Piersol, William A. Kuenzel and Early Bird--Item1 - The <em>Detroit News</em> bought a new Lockheed Orion in 1934 to assist in its news-gathering efforts. The monoplane, christened "Early Bird", contained space for a reporter or radio operator, a compact radio broadcasting station and three cameras--one of which was located in a streamlined nacelle on the left wing. A viewfinder in the cockpit interior helped the pilot line up the wing-mounted camera.

- June 10, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit News--Airplane--Lockheed Orion--James V. Piersol, William A. Kuenzel and Early Bird--Item1
The Detroit News bought a new Lockheed Orion in 1934 to assist in its news-gathering efforts. The monoplane, christened "Early Bird", contained space for a reporter or radio operator, a compact radio broadcasting station and three cameras--one of which was located in a streamlined nacelle on the left wing. A viewfinder in the cockpit interior helped the pilot line up the wing-mounted camera.
- Amelia Earhart in the Avro-Avian Biplane Received from Lady Heath, 1928 - World-renowned Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was an inspiration to Amelia Earhart. After Lady Heath took Earhart for a flight in her Avro Avian biplane, which Heath had flown solo from South Africa to Great Britain, Earhart was so impressed that she bought the aircraft and shipped it back to the United States. Soon Earhart's own fame eclipsed Lady Heath's.

- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Amelia Earhart in the Avro-Avian Biplane Received from Lady Heath, 1928
World-renowned Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was an inspiration to Amelia Earhart. After Lady Heath took Earhart for a flight in her Avro Avian biplane, which Heath had flown solo from South Africa to Great Britain, Earhart was so impressed that she bought the aircraft and shipped it back to the United States. Soon Earhart's own fame eclipsed Lady Heath's.