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| Landmark #718 | Los Angeles County | Visited: October 16, 2011 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque marking the site of the first air meet in the United States! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: About a half mile southeast of this spot, on Dominquez Hill in historic Rancho San Pedro, the first air meet in the United States was held during January 10-20, 1910. This area has evolved into one of the world’s leading aviation-industrial centers.
OTHER TIDBITS: This air meet was inspired by the first international air meet in Rheims, France in August of 1909! Air enthusiasts, notwithstanding the Wright Brothers’ widespread lawsuit of all pilots and air meets for infringing on their invention, flocked to Los Angeles for its ideal weather and viewing conditions. Around 254,000 people showed up at this event (compared to Los Angeles’ total population of 319,198), including a young William Boeing! And it was a cornucopia of broken flight records: Glen Curtiss reached 10,746 feet at 55 mph, Louis Paulhan carried a passenger 110 miles in 1 hour and 49 minutes, and Paul Beck simulated one of the first ever aerial bombing tests using weights! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 18501 S Wilmington Ave Carson, CA 90220 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~18mi (29km) — 0.3hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |