Nebo in Pike County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The First U.S. Transcontinental Flight

Photographed By Emily Pursley, December 30, 2018

1. The First U.S. Transcontinental Flight Marker

Inscription. Calbraith “Cal” Rodgers, the first man to fly across the United States, landed near this spot on Oct. 10, 1911. The flight took 49 days. Nebo was one of 68 recorded landing sites.

Rodgers’ aircraft was a Wright EX biplane named the “Vin Fiz” after a popular soft drink of the day. During the flight which followed the railroad coast to coast, Rodgers was accompanied by a special train with mechanics and spare parts, (and his wife).

The appearance of the “Vin Fiz”, the first airplane that most people had ever seen brought great excitement to the village of Nebo, Illinois that October morning, 1911.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is October 10, 1911.

Location. 39° 26.583′ N, 90° 46.867′ W. Marker is in Nebo, Illinois, in Pike County. Marker is at the intersection of Pittsfield Road and Vin Fiz Road, on the left when traveling south on Pittsfield Road. Near the corner/crossroads, on the bank of the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nebo IL 62355, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of First Building in Pleasant Hill (approx. 4.9 miles away); Great Flood of 73 Volunteer Flood Fighters (approx. 8.2 miles away

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in Missouri); Eagle Days (approx. 8.2 miles away in Missouri); Living with Floods (approx. 8.2 miles away in Missouri); Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.3 miles away in Missouri); Civil War Monument (approx. 10.3 miles away); Oldest Building in Pike County (approx. 11.2 miles away); Atlas (approx. 11.2 miles away).

<i>Cal Rodgers in Vin Fiz Flyer</i> image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of the Marfa Public Library / The Portal to Texas History, October 1911

2. Cal Rodgers in Vin Fiz Flyer

The Wright EX Vin Fiz image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 9, 2016

3. The Wright EX Vin Fiz

In the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC; Transferred from the U.S. War Department

“The Wright EX was a single-seat airplane for exhibition flying manufactured and sold by the Wright brothers. The Vin Fiz was rebuilt so many times during its historic cross-country flight that almost every part was replaced along the way.”

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. This page has been viewed 800 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. 2. submitted on January 15, 2019. 3. submitted on January 17, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.