Naval Air Station, North Island in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The World's First Seaplane Flight

Jan. 26, 1911.

World's First Seaplane Flight Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret), October 15, 2018

1. World's First Seaplane Flight Marker

Inscription.
Commemorating the World's First Seaplane Flight Jan. 26, 1911, by Glenn H. Curtiss.
His Seaplane was built here and flown from the waters of Spanish Bight, San Diego, California.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is January 26, 1911.

Location. 32° 42.173′ N, 117° 11.659′ W. Marker is on Naval Air Station, North Island, California, in San Diego County. It is on McCain Boulevard, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coronado CA 92118, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ships Bell (within shouting distance of this

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marker); C-2A Greyhound (within shouting distance of this marker); H-46 40 Years of Service (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin (approx. ¼ mile away); McCain Boulevard (approx. 0.6 miles away); CDR Clyde Everett Lassen, USN (Ret) (approx. 0.6 miles away); James B. Stockdale (approx. 0.7 miles away); First Military Flying School (approx. one mile away).

Additional keywords. Naval Air Station, North Island

Photographed by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret), October 15, 2018

2. World's First Seaplane Flight Marker

Part of the Ceremonial Area on NAS North Island.

Photographed by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret), October 15, 2018

3. World's First Seaplane Flight Marker

Visible in lower left corner.

<i>Men pushing Glenn Curtiss' seaplane into the water at North Island</i> image. Click for full size.

courtesy San Diego History Center, 1911

4. Men pushing Glenn Curtiss' seaplane into the water at North Island

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. This page has been viewed 585 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 15, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. 4. submitted on October 15, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.