Miller Beach in Gary in Lake County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Octave Chanute

National Landmark of Soaring

Photographed By Lou Donkle, June 19, 2022

1. Octave Chanute Marker

Inscription.
Octave Chanute arrived at Miller Beach, Gary, Indiana on June 22, 1896 to perform gliding flight experiments in the dunes just west of this site. Over 700 successful flights provided him with significant aerodynamic data.

Chanute willingly shared his data enabling the Wright Brothers and other pioneers to develop powered flying machines.

This marker is dedicated to Chanute and his assistants whose gliding experiments here helped make sustained flight a reality.

Erected 1996 by National Soaring Museum, an affiliate of the Soaring Society Of America; sponsored by The Chicagoland Glider Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 22, 1896.

Location. 41° 37.169′ N, 87° 15.425′ W. Marker is in Gary, Indiana, in Lake County. It is in Miller Beach. Marker is on Oak Avenue west of Montgomery Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is at the Aquatorium near the flagpole. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6918 Oak Avenue, Gary IN 46403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 11 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Octave Chanute 1832-1910 (a few steps from this marker); Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium (a few steps

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

from this marker); a different marker also named Octave Chanute (a few steps from this marker); Tuskegee Airmen Remembered (a few steps from this marker); Chanute Glider (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Octave Chanute (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipwreck Archeology (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Southern Point of Lake Michigan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Patterson Island (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Marquette Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Marquette Pavilion (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gary.

Also see . . . The Octave Chanute Pages.

Octave Chanute - this Chicago engineer was the 'elder statesman' of aeronautical experiments in 1900. His glider experiments at Miller Beach in 1896 produced the most influential and significant glider of the pre-Wright era.

(Submitted on June 25, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana.)

Photographed By Craig Baker

2. Octave Chanute Marker

The marker is near the base of the flagpole.

Octave Chanute Statue and Replica Glider image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lou Donkle, June 19, 2022

3. Octave Chanute Statue and Replica Glider

Octave Chanute Glider - 1896 image. Click for full size.

courtesy National Soaring Museum

4. Octave Chanute Glider - 1896

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 360 times since then and 90 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. Photos: 1. submitted on June 24, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. 2. submitted on April 19, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on June 24, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. 4. submitted on April 19, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.