Atlanta in Cass County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bessie Coleman
(1892-1926)
The tenth of 13 children born to tenant farmers Susan and George Coleman, famed aviatrix Bessie Coleman was a native of Atlanta, Texas. The family moved to Waxahachie when Bessie was two years old. She followed her brothers to Chicago in 1915 and developed an interest in flying. Because she could find no one in the United States who would teach an African-American woman, Coleman learned to fly in France and obtained her international pilot’s license in 1921. Upon her return to the United States, she was hailed as the first black woman to pilot an airplane. Bessie Coleman died in an air accident in Jacksonville, Florida in 1926 and is buried near Chicago.
Erected 2002 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12597.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.
Location. 33° 6.848′ N, 94° 9.931′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Texas, in Cass County. Marker is on East Street (County Route 249) near Main Street. Located in a rail park next to the depot and a retired, yellow-painted rail car with large print on its side that reads “Union Pacific UP 25602”. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 North East Street, Atlanta TX 75551, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Atlanta Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Mathews - Powell House (approx. 2.6 miles away); Laws Chapel Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Law's Chapel (approx. 3.8 miles away); Cass County (approx. 7.3 miles away); Old Liberty Cemetery and Site of Enon Primitive Baptist Church (approx. 7.8 miles away); Cass County Courthouse (approx. 13.6 miles away); Frog Level (approx. 13.8 miles away in Louisiana). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.
More about this marker. This location also contains a geocache. See http://geocaching.com. My cousin and I found this marker while on a motorcycle geocaching roadtrip.
Also see . . .
1. Bessie Coleman. This site documents the achievements of the world's first licensed black pilot. (Submitted on January 20, 2008.)
2. Bessie Coleman - Wikipedia Article. (Submitted on January 21, 2008, by Jeff Martin of San Antonio, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2008, by Jeff Martin of San Antonio, Texas. This page has been viewed 9,239 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on November 23, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 20, 2008, by Jeff Martin of San Antonio, Texas. 3. submitted on April 1, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on January 21, 2008, by Jeff Martin of San Antonio, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.