Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
25 October 1888 - 11 March 1957
Here was born and reared Richard Evelyn Byrd, aviator and polar explorer. A 1912 U.S. Navy Academy graduate, he received the Medal of Honor for the first flight over the North Pole in 1926, and made the first commercial nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927. In 1928 he organized and led the first of five Antarctic expeditions, and flew over the South Pole in 1929. Byrd spent the winter of 1934 along a hundred miles from his base at Little America, conducting scientific experiments. Of his several books, the best known is Alone. Byrd is regarded as the father of the Antarctic Peace Treaty, which bans the military use of Antarctica. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Erected 1993 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q 4-g.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Arts, Letters, Music • Exploration • Peace. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 39° 11.203′ N, 78° 10.318′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of Amherst Street and Boscawen Street ( Business U.S. 50), on the right when traveling west on Amherst Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 326 Amherst Street, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A "Malicious Design" (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel Morgan House (about 700 feet away); Catherine B. Conrad (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax of Cameron (approx. ¼ mile away); Little-Holiday House (approx. ¼ mile away); Glen Burnie (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sheridan’s Headquarters (approx. 0.3 miles away); Handley Library (approx. 0.3 miles away); Braddock Street United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); George Washington Lot (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.
Also see . . .
1. Richard E. Byrd. South Pole website entry (Submitted on September 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Arlington National Cemetery website entry (Submitted on September 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,028 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on September 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.