Marking the 122nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight, the Spirit of Flight Foundation Museum, Nampa, Idaho, installed a Table Rock Sandstone monument on its grounds. It was installed to honor the original pioneers of aviation and the events of December 1903. “The Wright Brothers taught us how to fly, and we want to encourage future generations to get involved in aviation and aviation history,” said Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Foundation. “This monument is something we have wanted to add to the museum for years.” The monument weighs approximately 3,500 pounds and was created by Rockitecture of Garden City, Idaho. Page credited the company for bringing the museum’s vision to life. “They did an amazing job that fit our vision perfectly to honor the Wright Brothers,” he said.
The installation also provided an opportunity to revisit the events of December 1903. A coin toss determined which brother would attempt the first powered flight of the Wright Flyer. Wilbur Wright went first on December 14, 1903, but his attempt lasted only three seconds before the aircraft stalled and was damaged. Three days later, on December 17, Orville Wright made the first sustained flight that lasted 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. That distance will soon be marked in a tangible way at the museum. “We are planning a museum expansion at the Spirit of Flight Museum, and we will have a plaque on the new building that is 120 feet from the monument,” Page said. “The plaque will make it known that Orville’s flight was shorter than the width of the museum building.”
Despite challenging weather conditions in the Treasure Valley, the monument installation went ahead as planned. High winds had forced Ace Crane of Nampa to cancel other jobs earlier in the day, but the museum building provided enough shelter to allow the lift to proceed safely. “I was watching the wind blow the crane’s cable around, and some huge tumbleweeds blew past too, making me wonder if the monument install was going to have to wait,” said museum volunteer Mike Frank. “In the end, the weight of the monument was no match for the wind.” In addition to the monument, the Spirit of Flight Foundation placed a bronze plaque nearby to recognize donors whose support has helped shape the museum into what it is today. “We have big plans for the future at the Spirit of Flight,” Page said. “Today was a major step forward for the museum and helps us recognize how we got here. Stay tuned for news on where we go next.” For more information and to support the Spirit of Flight Foundation Museum, visit the link: spiritofflight.com.
