Chanute in Neosho County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Octave Chanute

1832 - 1910

— "The Father of Aviation" —

Octave Chanute Marker (original location) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 11, 2011

1. Octave Chanute Marker (original location)

Inscription.
"If he (Chanute) has not lived, the entire history of progress in flying would have been other than it has been, for he encouraged not only the Wright Brothers to persevere in their experiments, but (his) private correspondence with experimenters in all parts of the world was of great volume.

No one was too humble to receive a share of his time. In patience and goodness of heart, he has rarely been surpassed. Few men were more universally respected and loved."
Wilbur Wright

"the Father of Aviation"
Octave Chanute • 1832-1910

[Silhouette of] Octave Chanute Glider
circa 1896

Erected 2003.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 37° 40.897′ N, 95° 27.166′ W. Marker is in Chanute, Kansas, in Neosho County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and the former railroad grade crossing, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Marker is on the wall of the building along the east boundary of the Chanute-Wright Memorial park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chanute KS 66720, 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,

and on the Southern Plains.

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: Octave Chanute: Engineer (a few steps from this marker); Thoughts on a Successful Flying Machine

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(a few steps from this marker); A Flight Into History (a few steps from this marker); Octave Chanute and the Founding of the Town of Chanute (within shouting distance of this marker); Chanute Announces Wright Brothers' Flight (within shouting distance of this marker); Octave Chanute and "The Problem of The Ages" (within shouting distance of this marker); Octave Chanute's Progress in Flying Machines (within shouting distance of this marker); William S. (Bill) Slane (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chanute.

Also see . . .
1. Octave Chanute. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on April 14, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Octave Chanute Gravesite. (Submitted on July 8, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. City of Chanute, Kansas Official Site. (Submitted on July 8, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Octave Chanute image. Click for full size.

via NPS, unknown

2. Octave Chanute

Octave Chanute Marker (new location) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 23, 2023

3. Octave Chanute Marker (new location)

The marker has been moved and reassembled from its original form, and is now displayed alongside the Chanute-Wright Brothers Memorial.

Octave Chanute Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 11, 2011

4. Octave Chanute Marker

At far right of photo. Looking east along Main Street

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 708 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 8, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on April 14, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. 4. submitted on July 8, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.