I-435 West KC-KS in Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

William Purvis & Charles Wilson

Aviation Pioneers

— Goodland, Kansas —

William Purvis & Charles Wilson Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022

1. William Purvis & Charles Wilson Marker

Inscription. Rock Island railroad machinists William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland, Kansas quit their jobs to work on the first rotary-winged aircraft. Their primitive helicopter had twin sets of blades that spun in opposite directions. Their demonstration flight on Thanksgiving Day, 1909 saw the contraption, which was attached to a steam engine, lift only a few feet off the ground. Although the Purvis/Wilson venture failed, in 1910 the government granted the pair of inventors a patent for the first rotary-winged aircraft in America.

Erected by Legends Outlets.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 39° 7.567′ N, 94° 49.506′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. It is in I-435 West KC-KS. It can be reached from Village West Parkway. Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1813 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City KS 66109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Southern Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Iva Pembridge Jarvis (a few steps from this marker); Autopilot (a few steps from this marker); Wyatt Earp (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Wyatt Earp

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Helium (within shouting distance of this marker); White Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); NASCAR (within shouting distance of this marker); Rick Mears (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Regarding William Purvis & Charles Wilson. This is one of several sidewalk plaques placed on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex, which highlight notable people and inventions that came from the state of Kansas.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022

2. William Purvis & Charles Wilson Marker

Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 104 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.