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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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151 results for: Aerospace

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Image of Young man in a seaplane, circa 1910
Photograph

Young man in a seaplane, circa 1910

In the early days of flying, many people experimented with airplane design. In Seattle, some people built seaplanes.This photo, taken around 1910, shows a young man in a seaplane named the "Angeles." The engine and propellar are mounted behind the pilot. The pilot, who steered the plane by pulling on cables which run to the rudder at the front. The…
ID Number:1983.10.6517.2
Date:1910
Image of Charles Hamilton's plane crash, March 12-13, 1910
Photograph

Charles Hamilton's plane crash, March 12-13, 1910

On March 12, 1910, Charles Hamilton became the first person to fly an airplane in Seattle. He lost control of his plane, and it crashed into a small lake. Hamilton was unhurt, however, and made a flight the next day in his other biplane. Webster & Stevens number: 15055
ID Number:1983.10.8599.2
Date:1910
Image of Charles K. Hamilton and his Curtiss biplane, March 1910
Photograph

Charles K. Hamilton and his Curtiss biplane, March 1910

In March 1910, Charles Hamilton became the first person to fly an airplane in Seattle. He circled above enthusiastic onlookers at Meadows Race Track, located near present-day Boeing Field.In this photo, pilot Charles Hamilton stands by his plane. It is a very early model, made of wood, metal, and cloth. It could carry only one person at a time--the pilot.…
ID Number:1983.10.8600.1
Date:1910
Image of Charles Hamilton's biplane in flight, 1910
Photograph

Charles Hamilton's biplane in flight, 1910

In March 1910, Charles Hamilton became the first person to fly an airplane in Seattle. In this photo, the biplane's fragile design is very clear. Webster & Stevens number: 15058
ID Number:1983.10.8601.2
Date:1910
Image of Charles Hamilton's biplane over a lake, March 1910
Photograph

Charles Hamilton's biplane over a lake, March 1910

In March 1910, Charles Hamilton became the first person to fly an airplane in Seattle. In this photo, Hamilton is flying his Curtiss biplane above a lake. Webster & Stevens number: 15184
ID Number:1983.10.8620.2
Date:1910
Image of Aviator Silas Christofferson and Seattle Mayor Hiram Gill in plane on Lake Union, Seattle, July 18, 1914
Photograph

Aviator Silas Christofferson and Seattle Mayor Hiram Gill in plane on Lake Union, Seattle, July 18, 1914

In July of 1914, aviator Silas Christofferson performed a variety of stunts as part of the city’s Potlatch celebration. Mayor Gill agreed to go for his first plane ride after learning that San Francisco’s mayor had recently rode in this flying machine. The plane took off from Lake Union and circled the downtown, climbing to 1,000 feet before returning to…
ID Number:1983.10.9856
Date:1914
Image of Herb Munter in airplane, Seattle, circa 1915
Photograph

Herb Munter in airplane, Seattle, circa 1915

Herb Munter was a self-taught engineer who built Seattle's first airplanes out of a Harbor Island workshop. In 1916, William Boeing and Conrad Westervelt hired him to help them build the B&W, their first airplane. Handwritten on sleeve: Munter Airplane & Pilot.Webster & Stevens number: 45303
ID Number:1983.10.10128
Date:Circa 1915
Image of Herb Munter's seaplane in Lake Union, Seattle, 1916
Photograph

Herb Munter's seaplane in Lake Union, Seattle, 1916

Handwritten on sleeve: Minter [sic] Seaplane Lake Union, 1916.Webster & Stevens number: 52298
ID Number:1983.10.10347
Date:1916
Image of Boeing
Photograph

Boeing "Model C" float plane docked on Lake Union, Seattle, 1919

Aviation pioneer William Edward "Bill" Boeing (1881-1956) was born in Detroit to German immigrants. He came to Seattle in 1908, where, during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909, he saw a manned flying machine for the first time and became fascinated with aircraft. With a partner, Mr. Boeing created two B&W prototype float planes in 1916, both of which were rejected…
ID Number:1983.10.10793
Date:1919
Image of Herb Munter and others posing with Boeing Model C seaplane, Seattle, circa 1916
Photograph

Herb Munter and others posing with Boeing Model C seaplane, Seattle, circa 1916

The flying career of legendary pilot Herbert A. Munter (1895-1970) began early as he built his first plane from a bed sheet, wooden struts, wires from market baskets and a 40-horsepower engine. Teaching himself to fly it in 1912, he went on to barnstorming and test piloting for the Boeing Company. He opened Seattle's first passenger carrying service in 1920…
ID Number:1983.10.10852.2
Date:Circa 1916
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