McCook Field in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Icarus
900 B.C.
— (Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration Series #1) —
Mankind began dreaming of flight long ago in ancient Greece. Greek mythology reveals this dream in the tale of young Icarus. King Minos imprisoned Icarus and his father, Daedalus, on the isle of Crete. The two escaped, but with Minos searching for them they needed to flee. Daedalus, an inventor, fashioned feathered wings that attached to their backs with wax, and the two planned to fly away to Sicily. Daedalus warned Icarus that if he flew too high the sun would melt the wax. But young Icarus couldn't resist the euphoria of flight. He rose higher and higher until the wax melted. He plunged to the sea and died.
In ancient times, flight was so unattainable, so god-like, that anyone who tried to reach the skies, even in myth, inevitably died. But the dream and the quest had begun. Man wanted to fly.
Erected by Inventing Flight and Dayton Power & Light Company Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Arts, Letters, Music • Exploration.
Location. 39° 46.106′ N, 84° 11.173′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in McCook Field. Marker is in Centennial Park, within Deeds Point MetroPark, off Webster Street, about 600 feet NE of the confluence of the Mad and Great Miami Rivers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 510 Webster Street, Dayton OH 45402, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration (a few steps from this marker); Neil Armstrong (a few steps from this marker); Chinese Kites (within shouting distance of this marker); The Peace Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Leonardo da Vinci (within shouting distance of this marker); John Glenn (within shouting distance of this marker); Montgolfier Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Wright-Patterson AFB (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.
Also see . . .
1. Daedalus & Icarus. (Submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Daedalus. (Submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Daedalus and Icarus. From Ovid's Metamorphoses - Book VIII (Submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 757 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 23, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.