Resources

The First world flight centennial

Throughout 2024, Friends of Magnuson Park led efforts to commemorate the centennial of the First World Flight which left from and landed at Sand Point. 
Our goal was to bring public attention to this important moment in aviation history and Seattle's role in it.

We did this through the following efforts:

Friends of Magnuson Park’s awareness campaign resulted in state, county, and city recognition of the First World Flight Centennial, as evidenced in the following resolutions and proclamations from the House of Representatives, Governor Jay Inslee, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.

Friends of Magnuson Park authored, commissioned, or collaborated on the following articles in 2024, in honor of the First World Flight Centennial.

Other articles written about the First World Flight Centennial in 2024:

This reference article was particularly helpful to us as well:

  • A Look Back…,First Around-the-World Flight, Air Force Materiel Command History & Heritage Program

Friends collaborated or commissioned the following videos for the First World Flight Centennial:

Hear Washington State Representatives speak about the First World Flight Centennial and its importance during the budget passing:

This area is under construction. Please check back for images and live links.

April 6, 2024 – First World Flight Centennial Take-off Event

On April 6, 2024, the 100 year anniversary of the First World Fliers taking off from Lake Washington on the first leg of their 175-day journey, Friends hosted a 100 Beers for 100 Years kick-off event at the Magnuson Park Cafe and Brewery.

We treated the first 100 guests to a complimentary beer, gave away flying lessons from Kenmore Air and First World Flight memorabilia as raffle prizes, hosted a historians’ talk, and did it all with the a 1920s flare – including a performance by the Savoy Swing Club dancers.

This event also kicked off a 175-day “Follow the Journey” instagram campaign where we followed the Fliers’ 1924 journey from Seattle to Seattle.

  • Event Flier

September 26-29, 2024 – First World Flight Centennial Celebration Weekend

Co-hosted by Museum of Flight and NOAA, Friends organized a weekend of commemorative activities surrounding the 100th anniversary of the First World Flight’s completion. We brought together a dozen Earthrounders (fliiers who have circumnavigated the earth) to show off their aircraft and tell tales of their adventures at the Museum of Flight all weekend long.

  • Museum of Flight Press Release

On Saturday, September 28th we invited Seattle to return to the site of the historic landing, now on NOAA grounds at Sand Point, for a full day of fun. 

  • Event Flier
  • Event Program
  • Event Reel

Read about the Centennial event in the following news articles:

This area is under construction. Check back for images and live links.

In 2020, Friends of Magnuson Park commissioned an exhibit on the First World Flight. The first copy was installed in the lobby of Magnuson Park’s Mercy Magnuson Place (Building 9) and is still there and open to the public as of January 2024, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm free of charge. 

In 2024, a second copy of the exhibit was produced and installed in the Auditorium Building at NOAA for the Centennial celebration event and is now on permanent view in the NOAA Cafeteria. 

To learn more about renting the exhibit for your space, contact info@friendsofmagnusonpark.org

First WOrld FLight Virtual Museum

This area is under construction. Check back for a collection of artifacts in Washington that tell the First World Flight story.

This area is under construction. Check back for our favorite list of resources for First World Flight research, from historic photographs to footage to Flier diaries. During the Centennial, we found so many amazing things!