Charles A. Lindbergh Dinner Menu

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one 12.5 x 9.5 inch booklet from an Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America, Inc. dinner held at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria on June 16, 1927, commemorating Charles A. Lindbergh's solo transatlantic flight. The booklet includes a black and white collotype autographed print portrait photograph of Charles A. Lindbergh, dinner menu, speaker and guest list, and a reprint from

The New York Herald

, Paris, Tuesday, May 31, 1927, entitled "As a Frenchman Saw Colonel Lindbergh." The inside front cover is signed by the donor, Enza Alton Zeller (1895-1984).

Arrangement

This is a single item collection. The menu has been assigned NASM Archives image reference number NASM-9A18881. Pages 10 and 11 of the menu are blank and have not been digitized.

Biographical / Historical

On May 21, 1927, Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974) completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history, flying his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis (r/n N-X-211) 5,810 kilometers (3,610 miles) between Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, and Paris, France, in 33 hours, 30 minutes. With this flight, Lindbergh won the $25,000 prize offered by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. When he landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, Lindbergh became a world hero who would remain in the public eye for decades. Following his historic New York to Paris flight, Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis returned to the United States aboard the USS Memphis, arriving at Washington, D. C. on June 11, 1927. Two days later, on June 13, he flew in the Spirit of St. Louis to New York City where he was honored with a tickertape parade. Celebrations continued on June 14 with the "WE" banquet at the Hotel Commodore sponsored by the Mayor's Committee on Receptions. On June 16, Orteig presented the prize check to Lindbergh during a tea held at the Hotel Brevoort. Later that evening Lindbergh proceeded on to a dinner held in his honor at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America.

The Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America, Inc. was a national aircraft industry trade organization incorporated in New York State in 1919 and formally organized in 1921 to promote the business of aviation. They are perhaps best known for their publication

Aircraft Year Book

, issued annually from 1919 through 1960. The Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, on Fifth Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets, New York City, well known for being the site of numerous dinners and balls, was demolished in 1929.

Related Materials

Program from the June 14, 1927, "WE" banquet at the Hotel Commodore sponsored by the Mayor's Committee on Receptions: Charles A. Lindbergh Banquet Program, NASM.XXXX.0362.

Program from the June 16, 1927, tea at the Hotel Brevoort where Lindbergh was presented with the $25,000 Orteig Prize check: Raymond Orteig Testimonial Dinner Program, NASM.2001.0051.