Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Centennial of Military Aviation

Fort Myer, Virginia

— 1908-2008 —

Centennial of Military Aviation Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Schroeppel, April 12, 2009

1. Centennial of Military Aviation Marker

Inscription. This plaque commemerates the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers flights here at Fort Myer from September 3 to 17, 1908. These flights led to a return series of flights from June 29 to July 30 of 1909 culminating in the first ever cross country flight from Fort Myer to Alexandria, Virginia and return. As a result of these test flights the Army then signed a contract with the Wright Brothers and purchased the first aeroplane. These flights make Fort Myer the birthplace of military aviation.

Erected 2008 by Fort Myer Military Community.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1935.

Location. 38° 52.902′ N, 77° 4.936′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. It is on Sheridan Avenue near Henry Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Sheridan Avenue, Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Etholen Selfridge (a few steps from this marker); Famous Firsts in Aeronautics at Fort Myer (a few steps from this marker); First Flight of an Airplane on a U.S. Army Installation (a few steps from this marker); The Commander in Chief's Oak

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Myer Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); 12th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Whipple (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); World’s First Public Passenger Flight (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Myer Historic District. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on July 15, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Charles Pelot Summerall. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 15, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional keywords. Summerall Field; drill field; parade ground;

Photographed by Leslie Schroeppel, July 14, 2008

2. Centennial of Military Aviation Marker

Drill field where first military flight took place looking south.

Photographed by Leslie Schroeppel, July 14, 2008

3. Centennial of Military Aviation Marker

Drill field where first military Wright Brothers flight took place looking north.

Wright flyer at Fort Myer image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

4. Wright flyer at Fort Myer

The "Centennial of Military Aviation" marker panel - on the wall to the right image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, November 29, 2013

5. The "Centennial of Military Aviation" marker panel - on the wall to the right

with the "Summerall Field" panel on the left.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, November 29, 2013

6. Summerall Field

In Honor of
Charles P. Summerall
Major 3rd Field Artillery
Fort Myer
1913

Major Summerall advanced to General with the 1st Inf. Div. in WWI and served as Army Chief of Staff, 1926-30.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2009, by Leslie Schroeppel of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,424 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on December 18, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2009, by Leslie Schroeppel of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 30, 2009, by Leslie Schroeppel of Washington, District of Columbia. 5, 6. submitted on December 18, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.