San Carlos in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Thaddeus Kerns

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 23, 2015

1. Thaddeus Kerns Marker

Inscription. Born June 5, 1884, Santa Ana, California; Died July 15, 1913, Chico, California
Inspired by accounts of the first public flights of Wilber and Orville Wright, Chico resident Thaddeus Kerns constructed and flew a hang glider of his own construction at the age of sixteen years old. In 1910, he built and flew an airplane patterned after the Curtis Model D, then he traveled from Chico to San Francisco to participate as a amateur in the famous 1911 Tanforan Air Meet.
Kern perished at the controls of the airplane he was testing within sight of his family home in Chico, at the age of nineteen.
He is honored as Chico's first aviator. Thaddeus Kerns exemplified the courage, adventurousness and perseverance of the pioneers who helped make the dream of flight a reality for everyone.

Sculpture of Thaddeus Kerns with 1910 Glider. Designed and constructed by John Chauncey Roll.
Emplaced in 1998.
Renovated by Eagle Scout candidate Conor McCann from Boy Scout Troop 42, Pacific Skyline Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Rededicated September 21st 2013.

Erected 1998.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 37° 30.742′

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N, 122° 15.203′ W. Marker is in San Carlos, California, in San Mateo County. Marker is on Skyway Road near Holly Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos CA 94070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pan American Airways "Philippine Clipper" Martin (M-130) NC-14715 (a few steps from this marker); San Carlos Depot (approx. half a mile away); San Carlos Station (approx. half a mile away); City of San Carlos Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); S.M. Mezes (approx. 1.7 miles away); Redwood City Sesquicentennial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Mezes Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); Ralston Hall (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Carlos.

More about this marker. This sculpture and marker are located in front of the Hiller Aviation Museum.

Also see . . . Chico pilot Thaddeus Kerns soared in early 1900s - ChicoER. "It was a time in American history where everybody who could tinker was creating a motorcycle, and a lot of them moved over to creating motorized flight," Hennigan said. "In Chico, there was a boy absolutely stricken with the need to fly — his name was Thaddeus Kerns." (Submitted on January 19, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Thaddeus Kerns Marker and Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 23, 2015

2. Thaddeus Kerns Marker and Sculpture

Thaddeus Kerns Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 23, 2015

3. Thaddeus Kerns Sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 561 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 19, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.