Poster, Lindbergh, King Collection

An image of Lindbergh standing next to the nose of the Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh is wearing a brown jacket over a white shirt with a tie. The tire and strut of the airplane can be seen over Lindbergh’s shoulder. This image was made from a black and white photograph of Lindbergh and the color was added later.

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.