Ornament, Airplane Model, Lindbergh, King Collection

A Spirit of St. Louis ornament with a black rope looped through a ring that is attached to the center of the wing. The ornament is gray with light blue lines on its surfaces and black lettering on the wing and tail. The nose has black lettering "Spirit of St. Louis" located just above various national flags from various countries. The propeller is free spinning. A hole in the side of the plane is in the shape of the door that is opened to the public on the real airplane.

On May 20-21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh literally flew into history when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, thus becoming the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from New York to Paris. This flight made Lindbergh a household name and catapulted him into fame and celebrity. The objects of popular culture in the National Collection display everything from ashtrays to wristwatches reflect the public adulation for Lindbergh and the powerful commercial response to his celebrity. More than 75 years after the Spirit's historic flight, Lindbergh's name still has the power help sell manufactured goods.