Lindberghs Land at Spearman
Spearman, Hansford County, Texas
Marker Inscription
At ten minutes before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 1934, a small monocoupe airplane landed in a pasture about 1/4 mile west of this site. The pilot taxied his craft to a stop near a windmill, deplaned, and asked the curious resident, "Lady, can I park my plane in your back yard?" The day proved a momentous one for Spearman residents. The pilot was Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974), traveling from California to New York with his wife, Anne. With about one hundred miles worth of fuel left in his plane, Lindbergh chose to stop in this small community to refuel in oder to avoid the inevitable crowds his arrival would cause in a larger town. A passing motorist was sent into town to purchase fuel for the airplane while the Lindberghs rested, enjoyed refreshments, and gave their hostess a tour of the airplane. As news of the Lindberghs' landing spread, school children were excused from classes to see the famous aviator and watch the plane depart two hours later. Although brief in duration, the visit by Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh to this small rural community was a significant local event. (1989)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
At about 10:50 on the morning of September 24, 1934, a small monocoupe touched down in a pasture west of here, and the pilot taxied to a windmill and asked the startled resident if he could park in her back yard. He was Charles Lindbergh, flying from California to New York with his wife Anne and, low on fuel, choosing tiny Spearman precisely to dodge the crowds a big town would bring. Word spread anyway; schoolchildren were let out to glimpse the famous aviator before he took off two hours later.
Why it matters
The unannounced landing captures the almost mythic celebrity of Lindbergh in the 1930s, when the age of flight could drop from the sky into a Panhandle pasture.
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Related people
- · Charles Augustus Lindbergh
- · Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Related events
- · Lindbergh landing at Spearman, 1934
Themes & tags
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