Downtown in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mary Winston Jackson

(1921-2005)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022

1. Mary Winston Jackson Marker

Inscription. Mary Jackson, aerospace engineer, was born in Hampton and graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (later NASA), hired her in 1951 to be a "human computer" in the segregated West Area Computing Unit at Langley Aeronautical Laboratory. In 1958 she became NASA's first African American female engineer. Her research focused on airflow around aircraft, and she contributed to Projects Mercury and Apollo. Jackson later worked to advance the careers of other female engineers and scientists. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a Girl Scout leader, and a volunteer in many civic organizations.

Erected 2019 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-174.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Exploration • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.

Location. 37° 1.463′ N, 76° 20.636′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Settlers Landing Road (U.S. 60) and South King Street, on the right when traveling east on Settlers Landing Road. Marker attached to an exterior column of the Virginia Air & Space Science Center. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton VA 23669, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (here, next to this marker); Dorothy Johnson Vaughan (here, next to this marker); Langley Field: Discovering Aerospace (a few steps from this marker); Langley Field: Creating an Air Force (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Katherine G. Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker); Ninteenth-Century Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker); Twentieth-Century Hampton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Also see . . . Mary Jackson. (Submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022

2. Mary Winston Jackson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.