From the time of the great Columbian Exposition of 1893 the City of Chicago, has had a long and rich tradition connecting it to the dream of flight. In the spring of 1893 two young men from Dayton, Ohio came to Chicago by rail, on their first trip ever away from home. Wilbur and Orville Wright were awed by the expanse of exhibits as well as the accessibility and the exchange of exciting information on hundreds of subjects from around world.
Committed to progress and the promise of a modern world full of magnificent new technologies in a new century the Exposition convened international conferences in a myriad of subjects such as theology, science, and engineering. Perhaps the most far-reaching conference was that of the International Conference on Aerial Navigation held during the days of August 1-4, 1893. The Conference was the brainchild of Notre Dame Professor Albert Zahm and chaired by his friend, retired Chicago Engineer Octave Chanute. Under Chanute’s leadership the Conference brought the Scientific Method to the pursuit of powered flight and brought together the leading scientists and engineers of the time to share in the exchange of ideas. The Columbian Exposition’s Conference on Aerial Navigation was a tremendous success among the professionals in attendance and enthusiastically received by the national press.
After the close of the Columbian Exposition, and having collected information on all sorts of flying machines during the past three years, Chanute published the leading work on aeronautics, “Progress in Flying Machines” in 1894. Both the newspaper articles and “Progress” were read voraciously by Wilbur and Orville at their home in Dayton. Inspired by the work and words of Chicagoan Octave Chanute, the Wright Brothers set off on their quest for flight. Until his death in 1910, Chanute was the leading academic authority on the subject of aeronautics, compiling an extensive research library housed at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago. (This collection retains the spirit of sharing information and knowledge which was a driving force during Chanute’s professional life).
Over the next ten years Chanute became the leading academic authority on the subject of Aeronautics, compiled an extensive research library, shared information with others from around the world, designed and conducted numerous experiments with gliders. Following the first correspondence made to Chanute by the Wrights, he enthusiastically assisted them with his encouragement and advice. In the Wrights Chanute recognized not only talent and but an interest in knowledge, understanding, and application. Chanute not only supplied the Wrights with information but also acted as a great mentor as they endeavored to solve the riddle of flight.
Kitty Hawk may be the place of birth but Chicago is the point of conception, for in Chicago the pursuit of flight became irrevocably tied to science and technology. From Chicago’s great historic Columbian Exposition of 1893, the International Aviation Meet of 1911 and the Bennett Cup Races of 1912, the National Races of 1930, the Coffee School of Aviation, Orchard Park and then O’Hare International Airport, (the world’s busiest airport) and onto the International Space Station, Chicago remains in the forefront of Aviation.